Indian Canyon Drive at the wash could reopen Thursday after weeks of closure due to immense sand buildup
City officials say they understand drivers’ frustrations but emphasize that clearing the tons of sand that accumulate is a tricky and time-consuming process, made worse by relentless winds over the past month.
North Indian Canyon Drive, a critical route in and out of Palm Springs, could reopen on Thursday after being closed for most of the past month due to massive sand build-up, a city spokesperson said Monday. The news comes despite recent reports on social media suggesting the road would remain shut down for the remainder of June.
Save for a brief two-hour reopening on the evening of May 22, the stretch of roadway at the wash has been closed to traffic since May 1. City officials say they understand drivers’ frustrations but emphasize that clearing the tons of sand that accumulate is a tricky and time-consuming process, made worse by relentless winds over the past month.
Local reporting and journalism you can count on.
Subscribe to The Palm Springs Post
The sand causing the problems is a fine, powder-like silt called “blowsand” that remains after flooding and then gets carried by the wind. City leaders said building a fence to block the sand wasn’t feasible because the land adjoining the roads is a mix of private and public property.
“The City cannot enter private property with earth moving equipment to clear the sand away from a ‘sand-fence’,” a city FAQ explains. “All our crews can do is wait for wind to stop blowing enough so that it’s possible to clear the pavement for traffic.”
Some longer-term relief is on the horizon. In December, the California Transportation Commission approved $50 million for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) to install bridges over the wash. That covers two-thirds of the estimated $75 million cost, with CVAG supplying the rest. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026 after design work is complete.
In the meantime, city crews will get a boost from a newly acquired road grader.
“City street crews continue to work on clearing the road of massive sand build-up,” city staff wrote on Facebook Monday, announcing the possible roadway reopening date. “The city’s new road grader will help immensely with this and other road clean-up efforts.”
Author
Related Articles
Former COD president sues district, board chair alleging discrimination, retaliation, financial misconduct
Laura Hope claims gender bias, a hostile work environment and whistleblower retaliation, specifically naming current board member and former president Joel Kinnamon.
Officials: Flight path change, made without notification, is driving surge in aircraft noise complaints
More and more, residents from Palm Springs to Indio say, aircraft noise is disrupting daily life. But airport officials say federal law limits what they can do.
Wind wall along Gene Autry Trail completed
The roughly $2.2 million project was designed to reduce blowing sand and improve visibility for drivers along a stretch of roadway known for strong winds.