$2.3M Construction Project To Begin on Avenue 48

A new construction project is expected to begin this month on Avenue 48 in Coachella.

At the city council meeting last night, the board approved a $2.3 million dollar project to alleviate traffic and improve pedestrian safety. The money comes from a federal grant awarded to the city.

Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez said the project will expand the corridor from four lanes to six, helping to reduce traffic.

“The traffic volume in that area has increased significantly,” Mayor Hernandez said. “We need to ensure that motorists can easily flow in and out of that area.”

The project also focuses on pedestrian safety — after two 76-year-old women were killed crossing the street at the intersection of Avenue 48 and Van Buren Street in 2016.

Resident James Coffee often rides his bike to the park near that intersection.

“There’s a four-way stop there but there is no measure to make people stop and they’re very quick to pass through there and it’s quite dangerous,” Coffee said.

“We’re adding crosswalks, we’re adding four-way (traffic) lights, and so you’ll have different pedestrian features there and safety features,” Mayor Hernandez said.