Overnight Paving Operation Begins and Daytime Work Continues State Route 183/Merritt Street in Castroville

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
District: 05 - Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact: Heidi Crawford or Ashton Harris
Phone: (805) 549-3461 or (805) 549-3138

Overnight Paving Operation Begins and Daytime Work Continues State Route 183/Merritt Street In Castroville

MONTEREY COUNTY – Construction continues, and is working towards completion, on a major rehabilitation of State Route 183 (Merritt Street) in Castroville to enhance multimodal travel. This primary phase of work will result in nighttime resurfacing and paving of SR 183 beginning at the south end at Del Monte Avenue and working northward to State Route 1, while also constructing new retaining walls, sidewalks, curb and gutters, driveways, ADA curb ramps and roadway work.

Reminder: Drivers must abide by speed limit laws everywhere.

One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open for travelers on SR 183. Installing underground irrigation and utility boxes along the southbound lane and across SR 183 at different locations will continue next week. The placement of concrete for curb and gutters, and ADA ramps will continue. This portion of the project is nearing completion, with a few locations remaining where utility companies must finish their work.

Overnight road work with alternating lane closures will also occur from Del Monte Avenue to the Hwy. 156/183 crossing bridge from 8 pm to 5 am. This work consists of grinding, resurfacing and paving.

Striping between Blackie Road and Walsh Street will be restored to its original configuration by the end of the week.

All businesses remain open and Caltrans appreciates the patience of the business community and the people of Castroville.

A zone for construction workers and two-way traffic will be maintained with minor delays and will include heavy equipment. During some stages of construction, there will be a temporary removal of parking, sidewalk and driveway access. Pedestrian access to local businesses and residences will be provided and maintained by the Contractor. Bicyclists and motorists are encouraged to share the road on SR 183. Travelers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes during peak periods. Plan your travel accordingly.       

Message and directional signs will direct travelers in advance of the project area.

About the Project

Through the town of Castroville on Merritt Street, the project will rehabilitate the pavement, address essential bridge maintenance needs, and improve multimodal features, including transit stops, sidewalks, driveways, and ADA compliant curb ramps. The project will also install new Intelligent Transportation System features and improve aesthetics, bicycle network continuity, and pedestrian safety.

Updates for the SR183/Merritt Street Castroville Improvement Project can be found at:

State Route 183 Castroville Improvement Project | Caltrans

The contractor for this $38 million project is Granite Construction, Inc. out of Watsonville, CA. The construction stage of this project is expected to be complete by end of 2026.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans Central Coast District 5 Social Media Platforms: X at @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.