Indian Canyon area projects and updates
The city has posted that Indian Canyon will be closed on Wednesday, October 25th night, between Garnet Avenue and Sunrise Parkway for construction striping, realigning Indian Canyon Drive as part of the Indian Canyon Drive Widening Project. The city is working to finish up repairs due to Hilary.
The Indian Canyon area has multiple construction plans and updates not to be confused with one another.
The project the city currently has under construction is the reconstruction of the bridge over the Rail Road Tracks. "The Bridge has reached its useful life and requires a complete demolition and replacement," says the Palm Springs City Engineer Joel Montalvo. The staff report that awarded the construction can be found here:
https://destinyhosted.com/palmsdocs/2023/CC/20230221_1414/4198%5F1G%5FOCR.pdf
This project is not to be confused with the Coachella Valley Association-Government (CVAG) Indian Canyon Drive blow sand and flooding project.
CVAG is the regional agency that oversees our area. Initial cost estimates for a 3-mile bridge were more than $250 million, which no one has. They are working on a smaller project of $40 million, combining short bridge crossings and culverts to address the weather events that force roads to be closed in the Whitewater River. They estimate that that project will take approximately 4-5 years to design and build. This bridge is to go over the wash.
Residents have been frustrated for years about the closing on Indian during any hints of rain and flooding. After the destruction, Hilary's tropical storm caused massive damage to the road; CVAG, government officials, and the city are discussing a solution and seeking funding. We were told a grant was sent in for consideration. Financing for an Indian Canyon bridge is not secured. No construction for this more significant project is underway.
The closure residents will experience on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. is a part of a city-run project. It has nothing to do with a bridge. This construction is solely to get Indian Canyon back to what it once was. The road will reopen to traffic at 5:00 a.m. Thursday. This will complete the emergency repair work.
