Cathedral City drivers in the Whitewater area are about to see some welcome improvements to their daily commute. Construction on the Whitewater Area Street Rehabilitation Project Phase II is set to begin Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with work expected to wrap up by early June 2026.
What’s Being Done
The project will fully rehabilitate three neighborhood streets that have seen better days. Crews will remove and replace existing asphalt pavement, rebuild ADA-compliant curb ramps, adjust utilities to match the new road grade, and install fresh striping and pavement markings.
The streets receiving treatment are:
- Ortega Road — between Shifting Sands Trail and Cathedral Canyon Drive
- Navajo Trail — between 33rd Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive
- Pueblo Trail — between 33rd Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive
These segments were selected through the city’s Pavement Management Program, a data-driven system that rates every street in Cathedral City on a 0-100 scale to identify where repair dollars will deliver the biggest impact. All three streets fell into the lower PCI categories and rose to the top of the priority list for this funding cycle.
This project represents the final phase of a multi-year effort to improve infrastructure and mobility throughout the Whitewater neighborhood. Over the past year, the City completed pavement reconstruction on portions of Sky Blue Water Trail, Shifting Sands Trail, and 33rd Avenue, along with pavement rehabilitation and the installation of a shared bicycle and vehicle travel lane along a two-mile segment of Whispering Palms Trail. Together, these coordinated improvements will enhance roadway conditions, accessibility, and drainage, completing a comprehensive upgrade to the neighborhood’s street network.
Who’s Doing the Work
Following a competitive bidding process that drew ten proposals from contractors across Southern California, the City Council awarded the construction contract to Matich Corporation of San Bernardino, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. A preconstruction meeting was held on April 23, 2026, with City Engineering staff, Matich, and representatives from the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), who are coordinating adjustments to their valves and manhole covers as part of the work.
How It’s Being Paid For
The total construction budget of $927,742.40 is funded through a combination of sources, with no impact to the city’s General Fund:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds — $452,412.76 in federal funding through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development
- SB-1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account funds — $430,429.64 from California’s Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 to fund local road repairs
- CVWD reimbursement — $44,900 covering the utility adjustment work
Because the project area falls within a federally designated low- and moderate-income (LMI) identified by the 2020 U.S. Census, it qualifies for CDBG infrastructure funding.
What Residents Should Expect
Residents who live within the project limits will receive direct notification before work begins on their street. As with any active construction zone, drivers in the area should plan for temporary lane closures, detours, and reduced speeds. Please give crews plenty of room and follow posted signage.
Short-term inconvenience, long-term payoff: when the orange cones come down in early June, the Whitewater area will have three smoother, safer, fully refreshed streets to show for it.
