MARINA >> Construction on the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project continues in Marina as ongoing work to complete the roundabout at Abrams Drive moves forward to a projected late May opening that will allow right in/right out movements to the roadway.

The Imjin Parkway project moved into phase two in early March with traffic now moving on the newly constructed north side of the parkway as work focuses on the south side on its way to project completion, estimated to be June 2026.

The project is a two-year effort to widen and increase safety on a traffic artery for about 30,000 daily motorists moving between the Salinas area and the Monterey Peninsula. The project affects 1.7 miles of Imjin Parkway from Reservation Road to Imjin Road and will include the construction of four roundabouts and increase the stretch of roadway to four lanes.

From now until April 18, work on the project will include the Abrams Drive north side roundabout, placement of concrete sidewalk along Imjin Parkway from Abrams Drive just after California Avenue to Marina Heights Drive, continued earthwork and grading of roadway section between Marina Heights Drive to Abrams Drive, continued earthwork and grading of roadway section from the Preston Drive half roundabout to Reservation Road, continued placing underground conduit for fiber and flashing beacon poles at Preston Drive, continued installing irrigation service lines along Imjin Parkway between Marina Heights and Preston drives, fence work at Army Reserve between Preston Drive to Reservation Road, future art panel foundations at Imjin Road, Marina Heights Drive, and Preston Drive roundabout medians, placement of boulders in roundabout medians at Imjin Road, Marina Heights, and Preston drives, and continue environmental monitoring of contractor activities job wide.

Night shift work is not scheduled during this time.

The reopening of Imjin Road at Imjin Parkway is slated for late April or early May with right in/right out traffic movements. Abrams Drive is closed until late May, and once opened will be right in/right out traffic movements to Imjin Parkway.

Traffic control is at an enforceable speed limit of 25 mph through the construction zone, while the recommended speed through the roundabouts during construction is 15 mph.

Once phase two is complete, phase three will be miscellaneous roadwork, including demolishing temporary paving, roadway paving and temporary striping, drainage utilities and lighting and grading.

Phase 4 will be final paving — top lift — and striping.

Upon completion, the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project will add on-street buffered bike lanes, stormwater treatment areas, retaining walls and a sound wall.

The improvements aim to 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 for the project, which is also the second regional Transportation Agency for Monterey County Measure X project to be built. 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.

The Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project’s $40.5 million in funding sources include $2 million from Marina generated from development impact fees, around $18.2 million from Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s Measure X and about $20.2 million from California’s SB1 local partnership program. 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.