Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part Supervisor’s Update.
As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest Happy Holiday wishes to each and every one of you and to also wish you all a Happy New Year’s! The holiday season is a time of joy, reflection, and gratitude, and I hope it brings you moments of happiness and connection with your loved ones. May the spirit of the holidays fill your hearts with warmth and kindness, and as we look forward to the new year, may it bring prosperity, good health, and countless opportunities for growth and success.
Road Updates
Resurfacing projects occurred this year for Airport Boulevard, Paulsen Road, Holohan Road, College Road, Green Valley Road, Buena Vista Road, Oceanview Drive, Holiday Drives, Hillview Way and Hillview Circle, Hazel Dell Road and San Andreas Road, and will continue into next year. This year we saw the most road resurfacing in South County than we have seen in the last two decades. My office was also able to secure funding to help resurface Murphy’s Crossing Road, Rogge Lane, Corralitos Road, Amesti Road and West Beach Street for 2024.
The construction of the Highway 152/Holohan Road Intersection Project also started this year. This project will help reduce congestion by providing additional lanes to this intersection and a merge lane on Highway 152 northbound. The new sidewalks, crosswalks, accessible ramps and the addition of bicycle lane improvements will provide safer routes for the public and school children that attend Lakeview Middle School and St. Francis High School.
We were also able to secure $800 million to support construction for the Highway 1 Lane Expansion project from Porter/Bay Street to Freedom Boulevard. This project is a part of the Watsonville to Santa Cruz Multimodal Corridor program that is composed of innovative projects on the three main North to South routes through Santa Cruz County (Highway 1, Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive/Freedom Boulevard, and the Santa Cruz Branch Line) that will address vital transportation needs of South County.
Expedited Levee Project
The Pajaro River Levee Project was scheduled to start in 2026; however, as a result of the constant advocacy by our office and others, along with the devastating floods this year, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmembers Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren, along with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and State Senator John Laird were able to sign a 2024 partnership agreement, a legally binding contract between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency to cover how work and project costs will be split between the two groups. Federal and state agencies will cover all the costs of the project.
Supervisor’s Update is a recurring column from Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez’s Office.
