New median worries residents

Some major changes on Highway 62, aimed at saving lives. Caltrans has installed a temporary median that prevents cars from crossing the centerline from Morongo Valley to Yucca Valley. But, residents say it’s forcing them to make dangerous u-turns to get to their homes.

“Everybody is just so upset about it because they can’t get home,” said resident Sherry Cando.

The new dividers span 6.3 miles from Pioneer East Drive in Morongo Valley to Fairway Drive in Yucca Valley.

“It’s somewhat of an inconvenience, there is no explanation as to why it is being done. I know that most of the residents in this valley are up in arms about this thing,” said resident Dave Baird.

Caltrans says it’s a dangerous highway, five people were killed in crashes since January; two in June alone.

“The area was going to get a change to the median in the future anyway, but because of the two fatalities in June, it was by the local legislators and here at Caltrans, it was deemed a safety issue. We had to do something very quickly,” said Caltrans spokesperson Joy Sepulveda.

The solution was a channelizer. It keeps people from crossing the median. There are openings for people to turn left, but not for every street forcing people to make u-turns on this busy stretch of road.

Caltrans says this is only temporary until they can develop a plan to put a permanent barrier but, that will take 2 to 3 years and residents worry what will happen in the meantime.

“Going down and making these u-turns is more dangerous,” saidBaird.

Baird is a retired law enforcement officer and says these barriers are an accident waiting to happen.

“Just yesterday my daughter was almost in a collision trying to turn onto our road because of these things,” said Baird.

Sherry Cando who owns a store on Highway 62 is worried she is going to go out of business. Cando says her convenience store no longer a convenience.

“I was so shocked because the moment that those went up my business decreased because there is no way for any costumers to make a left hand turn into our store,” said Cando.

“We understand that you have been impacted and that there is going to be an inconvenience, but we think that it’s a fair trade off to save people’s lives,” said Sepulveda.

Caltrans will hold public meetings to address concerns before the barrier is made permanent.

“If something is not working with these left turn pockets come out and tell us and we will consider altering that,” said Sepulveda.

“Something needs to be done but this is not the solution right here,” saidBaird.