Vital west Valley roads prone to flooding

Several roads on the west side of the Valley are often closed when we have stormy weather as we did at the end of last week.

In this last storm, it was the usual streets – Vista Chino, Gene Autry Trail and Indian Canyon. They all cut through the White Water River Wash.

To help remedy the problem, the city of Palm Springs has plans in the works to build bridges on Vista Chino and Indian Canyon.

The Vista Chino project will come first at a cost of about $95 million. The cost will be covered primarily by federal and state grants. The catch – it could take up to eight years before the bridge is completed.

“The environmental, the design, getting multi-year grants for that large of a project, it’s a process,” said David Ready, Palm Springs city manager.

In Cathedral City, Cathedral Canyon at the wash is another spot prone to flooding when it rains. A $22 million low flow bridge is on the drawing board for the area, also paid for through grants. It’s not expected to be finished until 2017 or 2018.

Also, in Rancho Mirage, Frank Sinatra Drive between Da Vall Drive and Highway 111 is another street area that can turn into a running river.

The city hopes to put a bridge in there by 2016 at a cost of $30 million. Again, federal and state grants will cover most of the cost.