Salinas City Council approves first phase of the Boronda Road widening project.

Salinas City Council approved a long-awaited project to alleviate traffic congestion on Boronda Road on June 18.

The Boronda Road Congestion Relief Project will widen the street from two to four lanes, two in each direction, between Dartmouth Way and Independence Boulevard, as well as add four roundabouts at McKinnon Street, El Dorado Drive, Natividad Road and Independence Boulevard. Other work includes buffered bike lanes, sidewalks, bus pullouts, ADA-compliant access ramps and more. 

The project is divided into three phases. Phase 1 includes the McKinnon Street roundabout and Boronda's widening from east of Dartmouth Way to mid-way between McKinnon Street and El Dorado Drive. 

The project received four bids and Granite Construction from Watsonville was the lowest bidder at $15.6 million. The total cost of the project, including contingencies and administrative services, is $20.8 million. The $5 million funding gap was covered by transferring money from the city's traffic fee fund. 

The project has been in the works for several years. The roundabout plans were approved in 2017. It suffered delays (construction was originally anticipated for spring 2024) and included taking measures to minimize the impact on two amphibians: the California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander. 

Boronda Road will be an arterial road for the West Area Specific Plan and the Central Area Specific Plans that will bring over 8,000 new homes to Salinas, making the widening necessary, according to city officials. 

Construction will begin once staff finalizes the contract, which could take between two to three months.