Date Palm overpass inches closer to completion, delays affecting business

Construction on the Date Palm overpass in Cathedral city is more than a year behind schedule as it heads into the final stages.

The contractor has hired on sub-contractors to help speed-up the process, according to CalTrans spokesman Dennis Green. They completed asphalt paving and concrete last week and still need to complete a barrier rail for the westbound loop on-ramp.

CalTrans is now trying to figure out what caused the delays and who’s responsible because there could be penalties. The bridge is set to be finished next month.

Drivers and a local business owner are saying they’ve had enough.

“I know it’s putting a lot of people to work but I mean all of the rest of the bridges are done, I don’t know why this is taking for ever,” said Jalone Martinez of Desert Hot Springs.

“You could build a hundred story building in less time than this bridge,” said Dan Neesan of Desert Hot Springs.

The owner of the Date Palm Arco AMPM has been waiting for the project to be completed so he can start his own re-model on the gas station, including a brand new AMPM store, featuring eight gas pumps, an express car wash and a fast food restaurant.

“I want to forget what happened in the past 12 months and I’m excited to move forward on it,” said

Chandi said he hopes the overpass will be finished before his new AMPM opens in June.