At long last, a Prunedale roadway gets a major upgrade

Monday marked the completion of a major safety improvement project on one of the deadliest stretches of highways in Monterey County.

The Prunedale Improvement Project is the largest transportation project in Monterey County since the early 1960s. It upgraded a 13-mile segment of Highway 101 from Russell/Espinoza Road to just north of Echo Valley Road.

The project includes new interchanges at Crazy Horse Canyon Road and Sala Road, a new undercrossing for Espinosa Road and Russell Road, a new overcrossing for Blackie Road and Reese Circle and a new lane added to the existing San Miguel Canyon Road interchange.

“I can list for you probably 10 people I know that (sic) have been killed on that highway making left-hand turns,”s says Lelavee Thomas of the North Monterey County Mothers Club.

Thomas says that’s the reality for drivers on Highway 101 from Boronda to Crazy Horse Canyon roads. That’s why she’s been pushing for improvements in that area. As a member of the Mothers Club, she helped collect 8,000 signatures on a petition for roadwork improvements back in 1982.

“I had a son in a very bad accident at one time,” she said. “I know what families go through. My son survived but it is horrible, horrible to be at such a terrible accident.”

With Monday’s ribbon-cutting event, Thomas joined other community members to celebrate the completion of the Prunedale Improvement Project.

Prunedale resident Richard Boyer says he’s no longer afraid for his family’s safety or his own.

“It was real scary and there have been times when I pulled people out of accidents,” said Boyer of the roadway.

Now with these new improvements on Highway 101, drivers won’t need to have to fear making a left-hand turn against on-coming traffic.

The $226 million project also closes existing gaps in the median barrier on four major interchanges.