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Caltrans District 5 updates RTC on Watsonville road and bridge projects; emergency sidewalk repair initiated at Stroop Slough
Summary
Scott Eads, Caltrans District 5 director, told the RTC Feb. 6 that Caltrans will pursue construction of multiple pavement, safety and crossing projects in Watsonville and that an emergency sidewalk repair at Stroop Slough is underway.
Scott Eads, Caltrans District 5 director, told the commission on Feb. 6 that Caltrans has several projects in or near Watsonville, including pavement preservation projects that will reach Ready to List (RTL) in May 2025 and a pavement/complete streets project on State Route 152 that is in the environmental phase.
Eads highlighted a Harkins Slough overcrossing improvement project for which the city and Caltrans expect a California Transportation Commission funding allocation in March. He also described an emergency project to repair a settled sidewalk along Stroop Slough on Highway 152 after repeated settlement; Caltrans is initiating design work and hopes to begin construction late this fall.
Caltrans also plans vegetation control and one‑way traffic control on Highway 9 between the city of Santa Cruz and Felton Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the weeks after the meeting to remove dead and dying brush for wildfire prevention, Eads said.
Eads noted the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant application period had closed with 20 applications in District 5, three of them within Santa Cruz County; the district will evaluate applications and forward recommendations to headquarters for final funding decisions.
Public comment during the Caltrans report identified a traffic and parking safety problem near Shark Fin Cove and thanked Caltrans for quickly scheduling a coordination meeting; Caltrans confirmed it will coordinate with RTC, city and other partners on a feasibility study.
Why it matters: the projects summarized by Caltrans affect traffic flow, safety, trail and sidewalk connections, and grant opportunities that can fund construction. The Stroop Slough sidewalk emergency project responds to immediate public safety and maintenance concerns.
What comes next: Caltrans will continue coordination with local agencies on the listed projects; the Harkins Slough overcrossing and other projects will seek CTC approval and construction allocations in upcoming funding cycles.
