Hello there! It’s Tuesday, Dec. 2, and another mostly sunny day lies ahead for Santa Cruz County, though with a beach hazards statement and coastal flood advisory in effect, you’ll want to take extra care along our shoreline this week.
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Lily Belli digs into the ongoing Murray Street Bridge retrofit, which has disrupted nearby businesses and snarled cross-county traffic – but the three-year timeline can’t be shortened, Santa Cruz officials tell her, due in part to environmental rules that involve multiple state and federal agencies.
Work along Soquel Drive is nearing the finish line after almost two years of construction, Max Chun reports, encompassing buffered bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly improvements and traffic signals to make bus transit more efficient. The county is eying the end of the year for completion, with a ribbon-cutting planned.
Tania Ortiz checked in with Watsonville Community Hospital CEO Stephen Gray, who says the hospital’s search for a financial partner to help with operational costs is ongoing, with a decision still months off. A probable drop in Medicaid and Medi-Cal reimbursements and the financial aftermath of a cyberattack last year are among the concerns.
The Tuesday headlines also include Community Voices opinion on the precarious state of funding for early intervention programs for children with special needs – onward.
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From steelhead to sewer lines: Why the Murray Street Bridge rebuild can’t move faster
Construction on the Murray Street Bridge has disrupted traffic and strained nearby businesses, but Santa Cruz officials say the three-year timeline can’t be shortened, in part because of strict environmental regulations. With multiple agencies overseeing wildlife protections and utility work that must be timed around seasonal constraints, the complex project remains on schedule heading into next summer. Lily Belli reports.
Soquel Drive improvements headed toward end-of-year completion
A major makeover for one of Santa Cruz County’s main east-to-west arteries is nearing completion after about two years of construction, with largely technical aspects moving into final testing. The county will hold a ribbon-cutting event for the project following the completion, but it has not yet chosen a date. Details here from Max Chun.
DAILY DIGEST
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Have a super Tuesday, and thank you for reading.
Will McCahill