Completion is expected by September 2026. Credit: Granite Construction.

Granite, a US-based construction company, has been awarded a contract worth approximately $38m by the California Department of Transportation for the upgrade of the Cactus City Rest Area near Coachella.

The project, which is set to begin in July 2025 and be completed by September 2026, will involve the demolition of existing structures, earthwork, grading, new drainage installation, ramp and car park paving, and new facilities construction.

The funding for this project will come from both state and federal sources and will be included in Granite’s second-quarter order book.

The company’s nearby Desert Cities Asphalt Plant is expected to supply 21,000 tons of hot-mix asphalt for the aforementioned car parks and ramps.

This project is strategically located 20 miles from Granite’s regional office and asphalt plant, making it a key contract for the Coachella Valley market.

The initiative is part of Granite’s ongoing efforts to upgrade roadside rest areas, aiming to provide clean and safe spaces for travellers. The improvements are intended to enhance travel safety along this stretch of desert highway.

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Granite vice-president of regional operations Bill Moore said: “Granite is expanding and diversifying our portfolio of similar projects.

“Recently, we have embarked on a comparable project at the John Wilkie Rest Area on Interstate 40, further solidifying our expertise in improving roadside amenities.”

Last month, Granite Construction was awarded an estimated $66m contract for improvements to the Caldwell Avenue interchange on State Route 99 (SR 99) in Visalia, California.

This contract includes the construction of two new precast girder bridges, one spanning over SR 99 and the other over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

This February, the company secured a $78m contract for the demolition and reconstruction of a 320ft-long concrete bridge in Orange County, California.