Pajaro’s Salinas Road Safety Project: County Awarded $735,253 for Buffered Bike Lanes and Sidewalks

PAJARO, Monterey County — October 28, 2026. A county road-safety project targets the main corridor between the Pajaro River Bridge and Railroad Avenue through Pajaro. Monterey County awarded a $735,253 construction contract to Granite Rock Company for the Salinas Road and Pajaro Project, No. 1175, at its August 26, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting.

What improvements are in the approved scope?

The county describes pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades on Porter Drive and Salinas Road, including 5-foot Class II bike lanes, with 3-foot buffers where feasible. The work also proposes filling gaps in sidewalks between Railroad Avenue and San Juan Road, and installing rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at existing midblock crossings south of Bishop Street. Additional work includes a slurry-seal surface treatment and refreshed pavement markings.

Why was the corridor selected?

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s G12 corridor safety study identified substantial traffic and collision concerns along the Pajaro-to-Prunedale route. The county’s project specifically addresses conditions for people who walk, bicycle, use transit or drive through Pajaro. Its scope does not claim a new highway, a new rail station or a change to all local roads.

How much did the county authorize?

The approved base construction contract was $735,253. Supervisors also authorized up to $73,525 in contingency for approved change orders, creating a potential maximum of $808,778 under the listed terms. The contingency is not a separate contract award and should not be added to the base amount twice.

Is the work underway in October 2026?

The official vote and bid records establish the 2025 contract award. They do not establish whether all work is complete, the final invoiced cost, a current street closure or a new grand opening on October 28, 2026. For day-to-day access or closeout status, residents should check the latest Monterey County Public Works notices and the final recorded Notice of Completion.

Documents

Monterey County Board — Contract Award, File A 25-345, August 26, 2025; Board — Adopted Project Plans, File 25-386; Monterey County Public Works project descriptions. This is a local public-infrastructure explainer based on adopted records, not a newly invented construction announcement.

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