Ceremony dedicates near completion of Jefferson Interchange Project
The near completion of the Jefferson Street interchange in Indio was celebrated Thursday morning during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local representatives.
The ceremony began at the Montecito Club in Indio starting at 9 a.m. Remarks were made by various local leaders including Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia.
Watch KESQ reporter Jeremy Chen’s reports live at the interchange this AM
The $71.4 million project is now expected to be completed in September, months behind schedule. Original plans called for a completion of the project this past spring in April. Construction involved reconstructing and replacing an overpass that had not been updated since 1972. Officials say that the revamped six-lane bridge will improve traffic flow, feature dedicated turn lanes and shoulders wide enough to accommodate bicycles.
“We all benefit by the completion of these major improvements along the Interstate 10 corridor, which improve our economy and quality of life.” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “As a result, we are able to provide smoother transportation systems to our residents so they aren’t stuck in traffic when they take their kids to school. Visitors coming from other parts of the country, especially during festival season, can get to a destination much quicker and support our local economy.
“I’m very proud that county, city and state agencies worked together to complete these six interchange projects, including this beautiful new gateway to the Eastern Coachella Valley, Indio, La Quinta and Bermuda Dunes.”
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The project is one of seven in the I-10 Coachella Valley Corridor Improvement Project, which consists of improvements to freeway bridges along Interstate 10 in the Coachella Valley.
“The grand opening of the Jefferson Street interchange is an important milestone, and a reflection of the promises kept in the I-10 Coachella Valley Corridor Improvement Project,” said Riverside County Supervisor and CVAG Executive Committee Chairman Marion Ashley.
“We’ve worked for years to improve the way traffic moves along Interstate 10, and we are now better poised to handle the residential and commercial growth that is coming to the eastern Coachella Valley. This couldn’t have happened without the tireless work from all of the project’s stakeholders.”
To celebrate the interchange’s completion, Perez and Ashley cut the ribbon on the project during a morning ceremony that was attended by Indio Mayor Elaine Holmes, La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans, Palm Desert Mayor Jan Harnik, and representatives from agencies that worked on the project. Classic cars drove over the new bridge following the event.
“The city of Indio is excited to be celebrating the completion of the Jefferson Street interchange,” Holmes said. “This project creates a new gateway to Indio, opening up economic opportunities in the northern part of the city and ensuring that our residents and visitors can access the city safely and efficiently.”
The Bridge is missing the first I, crews are still constructing the railing and it isn’t complete yet according to the county of Riverside.
