Wind wall along Gene Autry Trail completed

The city of Palm Springs has completed construction of a 590-foot-long brick wall along North Gene Autry Trail designed to reduce blowing sand and improve driver visibility.

The $2.2 million project was approved by the City Council in April 2025 and funded primarily through Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax dedicated to street, road and regional transportation improvements. Construction began in June and was completed this week.

The wall, which stands up to 14.5 feet tall, is located along North Gene Autry Trail between the Union Pacific Railroad bridge just south of Interstate 10 and East Via Escuela. The structure replaced an existing temporary wooden barrier in an area known for strong winds and blowing sand that create sand dunes on the roadway and reduce visibility.

The City Council authorized $150,000 for additional engineering work with Harris & Associates at its Feb. 11 meeting and approved staff to seek construction bids. The total project cost was $2,195,800.

The wall’s design incorporated lessons from a similar project on Indian Canyon Bridge and included provisions to protect local species including the Coachella Valley Milk-Vetch and Fringe-Toed Lizard. Construction required biological monitoring throughout the approximately 120 working days of work.

The city plans to evaluate the wall’s effectiveness over two years to determine if additional barriers are needed along the corridor.

---