Imjin Parkway project work sees tree planting, decorative rock placement
MARINA – The end of the first phase of Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout project will see finishing touches that include the start of tree planting and the placing of rocks on slopes in preparation for the project’s move to phase 2.
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. 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. The city of Marina is the lead agency on the project.
Marina Heights Drive and Imjin Road are closed at Imjin Parkway at this time, and the enforceable speed limit through the construction zone is 25 mph.
From now until Jan. 31, day work on the Imjin Parkway project will include the continued placement of sidewalks along Imjin Road, the installing of streetlight and fiber optic conduit between Marina Heights Drive and Imjin Road, irrigation service lines installation along the entire roadway, construction of half the roundabout at Imjin Road, the resuming of installing streetlight conduits and pole foundations at Imjin Road, the completion of fine grading of roadbed for Marina Heights Drive, as well as between Marina Heights Drive and the western project limit just west of the Imjin Road intersection. The planting of trees and the placing of decorative boulders on the slopes will also take place. Environmental monitoring of contractor activities job wide will also continue. No night work is anticipated during this time.
Future construction activities on the Imjin Parkway project will see the relocation of a portion of a Marina Coast Water District sewer force main line across from Preston Drive, roadway paving from east of Marina Heights Drive to the project boundary west of Imjin Road including Marina Heights Drive, the move into phase 2 which will switch traffic over to the newly constructed north side of Imjin Parkway to construct the south side of the roadway. This is expected to happen in late February, weather permitting, and the reopening, right-in and right-out movements, of Imjin Road in late March.
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 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2026.
Phase 1 saw work on the north side of the roadway, west toward Highway 1. Work included 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.
Phase 2 will see work on the south side of the roadway, eastbound toward Reservation Road. Work will include demolishing the existing roadway, grading, drainage, utilities, irrigation and lighting, paving and temporary striping, landscaping, south side of roadway roundabout construction at Imjin Road, Marina Heights Road, Abrams Road and Preston Avenue.
Phase 3 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 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.
