$225 million Highway 101 Prunedale Improvement Project complete

About 100,000 drivers travel on Highway 101 through Prunedale every day. But with dangerous left-hand turns and a high rate of traffic, those drivers started speaking out.

“It was a death trap,” said Dell Matt. That’s something this Prunedale resident wishes she didn’t know firsthand. More than 30 years ago, Matt and a friend were driving on Highway 101 near Echo Valley Road and Crazy Horse when tragedy struck.

“I was not the driver, but we were broadsided and my friend was killed,” said Matt.

That’s when Matt began pushing for what is now called the Prunedale Improvement Project. It addresses traffic safety issues along the 8-mile stretch of Highway 101 from Espinosa/Russell Roads in Salinas, north to Crazy Horse Canyon/Echo Valley Roads. Afterthree years of construction, the $225 million project is now complete.

Bob Deike has lived and operated a business in Prunedale for 35 years, and remembers how risky the road used to be for drivers.

“It was a lot of traffic, plus it was dangerous trying to get on, get off the freeway,” said Deike.

Dell Matt agrees, she said she hopes her efforts will keep others from experiencing the same tragedy she did.

“Safety comes first. I would rather do a little out of distance traveling than to try and shoot across a very dangerous intersection,” said Matt.

A dangerous roadway made safer for thousands of drivers, thanks to this big project. To celebrate the completion of the Prunedale Improvement Project, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Monday morning near the Sala Road interchange in Salinas.