Carmageddon: Caltrans seeks public input on $20 million plan to modernize Highway 9

Caltrans is preparing for a project that would add new sidewalks and bike lanes to parts of  Highway 9, a major mountain highway running through the Santa Cruz Mountains, along with necessary upgrades to preserve the integrity of the highly traveled road. The project, which is expected to cost more than $20 million, also includes other notable infrastructure upgrades, like restoring drains and upgrading guardrails and signs.

The state agency is seeking opinions on the plan from those who frequently take the route. It is holding a public meeting in Felton on Wednesday evening.

The project, called the South Santa Cruz 9 Capital Preventive Maintenance Project, involves a 7-mile section of Highway 9 that runs from the intersection of Highway 1 and River Street to El Solyo Heights Drive in Felton. It is still in its very early stages, as the final environmental review is expected to be completed by spring. The agency is aiming to begin construction in summer 2027 and wrap up by summer 2029.

The Caltrans project page says that the work is necessary due to poor pavement conditions that could lead to the need for more intensive roadway rehabilitation work if not repaired soon. There are also a handful of bicycle, pedestrian and public transit improvements included, similar to those seen in other parts of the county like along Soquel Drive, Green Valley Road and soon on the Bay Street corridor. 

The mountain highway will also get ramp upgrades, remodeled transit stops, high-visibility striping at crosswalks and new pedestrian islands — medians with a buffer area intended to protect pedestrians when they are crossing a road.

Beyond those improvements, a number of features along the roadway need to be upgraded as well. A total of 40 road sign panels along the route do not meet federal requirements for reflectivity and need to be upgraded. Five culverts along the road show signs of damage that could lead to future failure. About 7 miles of guardrails do not meet current safety standards, and 39 curb ramps need to be brought within current Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Caltrans District 5 spokesperson Kevin Drabinski said the project is the latest in Caltrans’ collaboration with local agencies like the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and former District 5 County Supervisor Bruce McPherson. 

Drabinski said the project connects with its other RTC collaborations in the county to speed up traffic along Highway 9 for both those commuting to and from San Lorenzo Valley schools and for non-school traffic, and to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. 

Drabinski said that the public input session will be held at Felton Community Hall on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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Check out our Carmageddon road project list here. This week, pay particular attention to:

• The on-ramp to southbound Highway 1 from Bay Avenue in Capitola has been closed since late September to allow construction crews to build a new ramp. Drivers can take a detour north on Porter Street to Soquel Drive, then east to Park Avenue, where they can rejoin Highway 1. They may also head south on Bay Avenue to Park Avenue, and rejoin southbound Highway 1 there. Caltrans expects the ramp to reopen on Jan. 31, several months later than initially expected.

• Signage work along northbound and southbound Highway 1 between Bay Avenue and State Park Drive will cause overnight closures of both lanes in each direction. The northbound closures will occur between 9 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. from Sunday through Friday. The closures will alternate between lanes, so one lane will be open in each direction at any given time.

• Paving and tree work will close down sections of Highway 9 from Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those sections are between Lazy Woods Road and lower Glen Arbor Road, lower Glen Arbor Road and California Drive/Middle Road, and the Henry Cowell Redwoods Vista Point and River Road.

• In Watsonville, a single lane on Green Valley Road from Holohan Road to Casserly Road is closed for the Multi-Use Trail Improvement Project. Lane closures occur from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, a single lane is closed on Buena Vista Drive and Ranport Road for overhead tree trimming on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., causing potential delays.

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