WATSONVILLE—A plan to improve traffic and pedestrian safety at a notoriously busy intersection on the outskirts of Watsonville took a step forward Wednesday.
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to allow the California Department of Transportation to use a small parcel alongside Lakeview Middle School near the intersection of Holohan Road and East Lake Avenue, which is often the scene of frequent traffic backups and collisions.
District officials will now publish the notice of the plan in local newspapers before finalizing the easement at a later meeting.
The $4.3 million project, funded by state and federal sources, will add two lanes to the Holohan Road approach, which will result in a 235-foot left turn lane, a 235-foot left and through lane, a bicycle lane, and a 165-foot right turn lane.
It will also add a 140-foot merge lane on northbound East Lake Avenue, to accommodate the dual left-turn movement from eastbound Holohan Road.
In addition, the project includes roughly 500 feet of bike lanes on Holohan Road, and crosswalks on every corner of the intersection.
To allow the project to move forward, County of Santa Cruz officials must acquire several parcels, including the unused strip of land between East Lake Avenue and the school, totaling 93 square feet.
The existing sidewalk will be moved, PVUSD Chief Business Officer Clint Rucker says. Additionally, no land will be taken from the middle school, he said.
The district will charge a “nominal” $500 fee for the use of the land.
