MARINA >> Construction activities for the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project, which will see its one-year milestone this week, continue as weather permits toward completion of phase one work before moving into phase two of the projected two-year and four-phase effort.

The Imjin Parkway project affects 1.7 miles of the parkway from Reservation Road to Imjin Road and will include the construction of four roundabouts, and increase the stretch of roadway to four lanes, among other improvements.

The project is split into different phases in an effort to minimize construction impacts along the roadway as well as attempting to increase efficiencies to complete the project as quickly as possible.

Construction began Feb. 12, 2024 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2026.

Marina Heights Drive and Imjin Road remain closed at Imjin Parkway, and the enforceable speed limit through the construction zone is 25 mph.

Scheduled work through the end of this week includes the continued placement of sidewalks, curb, gutter and drainage features along Imjin Road, the installation of streetlights near Imjin Road and Marina Heights Drive, the continued installation of irrigation service lines along Imjin Road and the continued excavation and installation of bioswale soil material along Imjin Parkway and at Imjin Road.

Work also includes a paving operation to put down the first lift of asphalt paving for Marina Heights Drive and between Marina Heights Drive and the western project limit — just west of the Imjin Road intersection with Imjin Parkway. The project also includes the planting of trees and the placing of decorative boulders on slopes along the phase one roadway alignment, as well as the continued environmental monitoring of contractor activities job-wide. No night work is anticipated.Phase one has seen work on the north side of the roadway, west toward Highway 1. The work includes demolishing the existing roadway, grading, drainage, utilities, irrigation and lighting, retaining and sound walls, roadway paving and temporary striping, landscaping and north side of roadway roundabout construction at Preston Avenue, Abrams Road, Marina Heights Road and Imjin Road.

Once phase one work is complete, the project will move to phase 2. Traffic will be switched over to the newly constructed north side of Imjin Parkway to allow for the construction of the south side of the roadway. Weather permitting, the move to the second phase is expected to take place by the end of February, and the reopening, right-in and right-out movements, of Imjin Road in late March.

Phase three will be miscellaneous roadwork including demolishing temporary paving, roadway paving and temporary striping, drainage utilities, lighting and grading.

Phase four will be final paving — top lift — and striping.

The Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project is a two-year effort to widen and increase safety on a traffic artery for about 30,000 daily motorists that links the Salinas area to the Monterey Peninsula. Upon completion, the Widening and Roundabout Project will provide transit and pedestrian improvements, add on-street buffered bike lanes, stormwater treatment areas, retaining walls and a sound wall.

The improvements will benefit commuters who travel through the corridor, as well as those who live along Imjin Parkway at Cal State Monterey Bay and the neighboring homes in Marina Heights, Sea Haven and Preston Park.

The city of Marina is the lead agency on the project.

The Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project’s $40.5 million in funding sources include $2 million from Marina generated from development impact fees, about $18.3 million from Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s Measure X and about $20.3 million from California’s SB1 local partnership program.

Measure X was the November 2016 ballot measure approved by 67.7% of Monterey County voters for the Transportation Agency’s Transportation Safety and Investment Plan.

To stay informed about the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project, visit the project website at www.imjinparkway.com or call Edrie De Los Santos, city of Marina, at 831-884-1212.