Sidewalk construction is expected to start this fall on Highway 9 north of Graham Hill Road. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo – Santa Cruz Local)
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Editor’s note: This story is part of a series on cyclist and pedestrian safety in Santa Cruz County. It is supported by a USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism Health Equity fellowship. Part 1 mapped the county’s most dangerous roads for cyclists and pedestrians, and Part 2 detailed the fatal fallout from delayed safety improvements on Highway 9.
FELTON >> This fall, construction is expected to start on a sidewalk on Highway 9 between Graham Hill Road and San Lorenzo Valley High School. It’s part of a four-year process of safety upgrades for walking and biking on the highway in Felton.
Caltrans and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission have planned two projects on Highway 9.
A new sidewalk to San Lorenzo Valley schools is expected to finish by 2027. The project includes:
- A sidewalk, gutters, and a wider shoulder on the southbound side of the highway.
- Rebuilt retaining walls to accommodate the sidewalk and widened shoulder.
Another project proposed to start construction in 2027 and end in 2029 would add bike lanes, sidewalks, upgraded crosswalks and other improvements on Highway 9 throughout downtown Felton. It would include:
- Sidewalks and painted bike lanes through much of downtown Felton, from Laurel Drive to Graham Hill Road.
- A pedestrian walkway from Highway 9 to the bridge over the San Lorenzo River, just inside Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
- Repainted crosswalks, with curb extensions at some crosswalks.
- Redesigned bus stops.
- Safety upgrades for the intersection of Graham Hill Road and Highway 9.
- A painted bike lane in the City of Santa Cruz from Encinal Street to Golf Club Drive.
A third set of safety improvements on Highway 9 have been planned for downtown Boulder Creek. The project is not fully funded and lacks an environmental review. The plan tentatively includes:
- Sidewalks and bike lanes between Mountain Street and Bear Creek Road.
- Curb extensions at some crosswalks.
- Center median islands to slow traffic.
- A potential new stop sign at the intersection with Bear Creek Road.
Last year, transportation commission staff started work on a Rural Highway Safety Plan to guide the next round of improvements on Highway 9 and other rural highways in Santa Cruz County. It included Highways 35 and 236 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Highways 152 and 129 in South County and Highway 1 on the North Coast.
This fall, the transportation commission is expected to release a draft Rural Highway Safety Plan for public feedback.
Get involved
- Sign up for updates on plans for Highway 9 and other roads from the regional transportation commission.
- To report problems on Highway 9 or other state highways, fill out the Caltrans Customer Service Request form.
- To report problems on roads outside of the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley and Capitola other than highways, submit a request to the Santa Cruz County Department of Community Development and Infrastructure.
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Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.
Jesse Kathan is a staff reporter for Santa Cruz Local through the California Local News Fellowship. They hold a master's degree in science communications from UC Santa Cruz.
