Mountain Residents Urge Immediate Repairs for Dangerous Highway 74
Residents of Pinyon Crest are demanding urgent action to fix Highway 74, citing increased dangers and recent fatalities on the road
Pinyon Crest, California, Highway 74, Road Safety, Caltrans, Accidents
This road is no joke. It climbs thousands of feet through the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains, with tight switch-backs and steep drop-offs. Sadly, in 2024, at least two people lost their lives on it, and one person fell 200 feet off the edge.
Residents are saying it’s never been more dangerous. They’ve noticed the road is in worse shape than ever, with more potholes and wear and tear. Plus, they’re seeing more big trucks using this narrow, two-lane road, likely to dodge weigh stations on the main highways.
Ramos mentioned in an email that she’s never seen so much damage on Highway 74. With all the holes and rocks, it’s just getting riskier. Alison Kelemen, another local, drives this highway often to bring food to her mom, who has Alzheimer’s. She’s also noticed the potholes piling up and thinks Caltrans isn’t doing enough to fix them.
Kelemen pointed out that the patches they use don’t last, leaving big chunks of asphalt in the road. With all the hairpin turns, it’s tough to dodge those chunks without swerving. She’s worried for everyone’s safety.
To push for change, Kelemen started an online petition last month, and it’s already gathered over 700 signatures. People are sharing their close calls and experiences with the road.
Tristin Bourgeois, a 27-year-old from La Quinta, tragically died on Halloween when a big rig lost control and crashed into his car. His mother, Danielle Ellington, is among many locals calling for urgent upgrades to the road.
Ellington shared that the day before Tristin’s accident, his sister had a flat tire on the same road. She also mentioned that a local tow truck company reported around 30 tire blowouts over Thanksgiving weekend. It’s not just her family; this is affecting a lot of people, and it’s scary to drive.
Caltrans says they’re planning a major project for 2028, but residents feel that’s way too long to wait. They want immediate action.
Local officials are hearing the complaints and are looking into ways to improve the highway. Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, who represents the area, expressed his concern over the recent accidents and is committed to finding solutions.
U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert is also on it, saying they need to make the road safer as soon as possible. Caltrans crews are currently doing some crack-sealing and planning deeper repairs along about five miles of Highway 74.
They hope to start this work soon, but there’s still a long way to go. As for the big trucks, any restrictions would need a proposal from local authorities.
Meanwhile, the larger project, which will cover about 45 miles of Highway 74, is set to cost over $51 million and won’t kick off until 2028. For the folks who drive this road daily, that wait feels way too long.
Kelemen summed it up perfectly: “We can’t wait until 2028. That’s ridiculous. It’s just not safe.”
Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells. You can reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Local residents call for fixes to Highway 74, saying it’s in disrepair.