Motorists who travel highway 74 to Palm Desert have recently found themselves running a gauntlet of potholes and debris from attempted repairs. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, many motorists suffered flat tires there. Locals have noted repair work for several months, but take issue with the results, and one has started a petition to bring attention to the danger and push for a solution. The Caltrans Superintendent for the district says that more thorough repairs can be expected during the next two months, and there is a full repaving scheduled for 2028.
Marvin Lopez is one of two drivers who worked that weekend at Valley Auto in Anza, the Automobile Club contract station that responds to calls on this section of 74. He said that weekend he had personally responded to “15 to 20,” and the other driver “maybe another 20.” He said he has seen repairs on the road surface but added that the tow-truck drivers had made many calls to Caltrans reporting the problem. “I’m just surprised it took that long to get fixed; we were flooding them with calls.”
Pinyon Crest resident Alison Kelemen has started a petition on change.org, “Oppose potholes on CA-74 (Palms to Pines Highway.)” In its first four days it gained over 600 signatures. Kelemen blames much of the damage on commercial trucks. “We see these big trucks, usually in-groups, two or three traveling together. They really beat up the road. I don’t think this road was built for this kind of traffic.” Kelemen says she has been in contact with the offices of Representative Ken Calvert and Assembly Member Greg Wallis and has offered to drive the route with both lawmakers, but so far, they have not taken her up on the offer.
Eric Dionne, Chief of Media and Public Affairs for Caltrans District 8, responded to our request for comment: “Currently, our local maintenance crew is conducting crack-sealing functions at the location in question. The team is also working on procurement to conduct localized asphalt digouts. All areas in District 8 have a supervisor who conducts weekly inspections and addresses all safety items as they arise, with a winter plan that each maintenance yard adheres to. These repairs were already in the works before the reports over the holiday weekend.”
Dionne went on to describe the long-range plan, a project that will upgrade 45 miles of the highway starting in Palm Desert. “Work will address a complete mill and overlay, guardrail and sign panel replacement, upgrade curb ramps to ADA compliance, stormwater mitigation, complete street elements (which is a district-level plan that identifies pedestrian and bicycle needs), and bridge rail upgrades.” This project is slated for 2028.
The Superintendent for Caltrans District 8, Lorenzo Perez, gave more details on the repair work underway and the causes of the problem. He said that rubberized crack sealing will be finished this week, and crews will then proceed with “PASS oil (Pavement Asphalt Surface Saver), also called emulsion, for some of the finer cracks and alligatoring, to hold existing and patch materials together. It’s a tacking oil to bind and seal, then we use sand on top to seal, bind, and add traction. Then we will work on locations starting to rut and pop out, those are the main areas of our focus. We are trying to procure a grind and pave operation, that will probably take a month or two.”
Asked how long it takes for pothole patches to harden, he said that at current temperatures they set in 15 to 20 minutes. “We inspect, Quality Control makes sure it’s safe to open to traffic.”
As to the cause of the problem, Perez said that “The pavement in that area is only 3 inches thick.” He said that roads that are expected to carry heavy trucks are often 6 inches deep or more. He agreed with Kelemen that many heavy trucks are using the road “as a shortcut to San Diego.” This is out to his hands, “We’re not law enforcement, we don’t control who goes up and down.” Highway 74 is classified as a “CA Legal Advisory Route,” which means only that “Travel is not advised” for trucks over a posted length.
The stretch of highway in question is within Assembly District 36. Asked for comment, newly elected Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez responded “The recent accidents on Highway 74 are deeply concerning, and my heart goes out to all those affected. Ensuring the safety of not only my constituents, but all Californians is a top legislative priority.”
There is a way for motorists to file a claim with the state for damage from dangerous highway conditions. “Under specific and strict state laws, Caltrans may be responsible for damage to vehicles traveling on the state highway system, but a filed claim does not automatically mean reimbursement.” The burden of proof is on the motorist. The application can be found at https://dot.ca.gov/online-services/submit-damage-claim.
