State Route 156/Castroville Boulevard Interchange Update

Glenn Church
Sep 3
2 min read

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Improvements to Highway 156 between Prunedale and Castroville have been discussed since the 1960s. These improvements have included adding more lanes to the existing route, creating a new route, and a toll road, as well as less comprehensive projects. For 60 years, those proposals have been stymied by ballooning costs, lack of funding, environmental concerns and political opposition. It seemed that nothing substantial would ever be done.

However, in a major breakthrough for local infrastructure, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) has secured full funding for the long‑envisioned State Route 156/Castroville Boulevard interchange in Castroville. The California Transportation Commission approved $90.6 million in funding from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program and the Local Partnership Program under Senate Bill 1, supplementing contributions from Measure X, regional fees, and other sources—bringing the project’s total to approximately $136 million.

This project was previously fully funded in 2023 but delays outside the control of the County of Monterey or TAMC delayed the project and eliminated the funding. Rarely do transportation projects get a second chance. This one did.

This effort represents the culmination of decades of planning to remedy one of the most congestion‑prone and dangerous stretches of roadway for North County residents and those traveling to the Monterey Peninsula. With about 32,000 vehicles using this corridor daily, the upgrade from a traffic light intersection to a grade‑separated interchange promises smoother traffic flow and increased safety.

That is the key part of this project—safety. The stoplight at Castroville Boulevard is deadly. Many have lost their lives there and accidents are common. My son, returning from CSUMB in May, crossed that intersection on a green light. A vehicle ran the red light and struck the rear end of his vehicle, spinning his car around and totaling it. Fortunately, he was not injured. I am committed to this project so no one will lose their life or face serious injury there again.

The interchange will lead to the removal of the stoplight. There will not be any roundabouts on the highway, as is the case near Hollister with Highways 156 and 25. The roundabouts on this stretch of Highway 156 will be off the highway and used for vehicles entering, exiting or seeking to change direction on the highway. This should ease congestion and make for a far safer drive.

As always, don't hesitate to reach out to my office for assistance. You can reach us at 831-755-5022 or district2@countyofmonterey.gov.

Sincerely,