Plans to build Vista Chino bridge underway

The City of Palm Springs is planning to build a bridge on Vista Chino, with construction beginning in about four years. It’s a move that many residents have been requesting for years, as any significant amount of rainfall continuously floods the wash, forcing authorities to close the road to traffic.

According to Marcus Fuller, assistant city manager of Palm Springs, the city had secured $95 million in funding for a new bridge on Vista Chino. He said environmental reviews for the project have been completed.

“We’re in final design phase,” he said. “We’re acquiring the different rights of ways and easements that we need from property owners along that route.”

Business owner Nweran Jaber has seen congestion on Ramon Road due to several roads into Palm Springs being closed at the wash. He believed a bridge would certainly help.

“We rarely get any rain, especially with the drought that we had so I guess right now after this, after this experience, I think it would be a good idea,” he said.