News from CVAG:

Indio, CA – With construction more than halfway complete, the Interstate 10/ Jefferson Street interchange project remains on schedule to open before summer 2017.

New aerial photos, which were taken earlier this month by Paul Rodriguez of Skyview Imaging Aerial Photography, show the vast amount of progress that has been made on the much-anticipated project.

Jefferson Street is the largest construction project undertaken by CVAG and costs more than $70 million. The project involves demolishing the existing bridge and northbound Indio Boulevard overcrossing and replacing it with a new, six-lane bridge that has bicycle lanes on each side.

In addition to the new bridge, the project involves realigned on- and off-ramps, widening parts of Varner Road, a new sidewalk and additional traffic signals.

Construction is being spearheaded by the County of Riverside in partnership with the City of Indio and CVAG.

“This interchange will create an important gateway to the City of Indio and the eastern Coachella Valley,” said Indio Mayor Glenn Miller, a member of the CVAG Executive Committee.

“We’ve worked for years to plan this project and secure the funding. When complete, the new interchange will improve public safety and make it easier to access the shopping districts, entertainment venues, schools and a variety of other services.”

The Jefferson Street project is the sixth interchange to be reconfigured or improved as part of the Coachella Valley Corridor Improvement Project. CVAG and its partners have already completed work at Indian Canyon Drive; Palm Drive/ Gene Autry Trail; Date Palm Drive; Ramon Road/ Bob Hope Drive; and at Monterey Avenue.

And that’s just the beginning of the improvements that are coming for drivers on Interstate 10.

Last month, the CVAG Executive Committee approved reimbursement agreements with the City of Indio to move forward with improvements at the Jackson Street and Monroe Street interchanges. CVAG is also working with the City of Palm Desert and the County of Riverside to plan a new interchange at Portola Avenue.