City of Palm Springs - Indian Canyon Drive Widening & UPRR Bridge Replacement Federal Aid Project

Harris is providing construction management services and full environmental and inspection oversight for the widening of Indian Canyon Drive, a critical north–south corridor connecting the City of Palm Springs to Interstate 10. The project includes widening the roadway from two to six lanes, replacing the UPRR/Amtrak bridge, installing new traffic signals, reconstructing roadway approaches, and constructing a new gravity sewer system with trenchless crossings beneath active rail lines. Together, these improvements are designed to enhance multimodal access, reduce commute times, and improve traffic flow along one of the region’s most important transportation routes.

As prime consultant, Harris oversees contract administration, inspection, scheduling, documentation, and coordination among the City, Union Pacific Railroad, Caltrans District 8, utility providers, and regulatory agencies. The team also supports staged construction and traffic control to help maintain continuous while managing schedule risks associated with rail coordination, trenchless construction, and desert conditions such as high winds, sand, and storm events.

Core Elements

• Bridge replacement, roadway widening, and utility installation
• Trenchless sewer installation beneath active rail lines
• Coordination with UPRR, Caltrans District 8, utility providers, and regulatory agencies
• Compliance with federal funding requirements, FHWA guidance, and Caltrans LAPM and LAPG standards
• Environmental and inspection oversight, including pre-construction biological surveys and worker environmental awareness training

Beyond the Blueprints

By combining biological monitoring with rigorous inspection and quality control, Harris helps position the project to withstand Caltrans and federal audits while maintaining compliance in a highly sensitive environmental setting.

Harris also supported the City in navigating complex regulatory challenges associated with the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan take permit, multiple Biological Opinions, and strict mitigation measures established to protect the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (CVFTL). A key success was Harris’ direct coordination with Caltrans District 8 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Colorado Desert Division to prepare a Biological Assessment Addendum, which ultimately resulted in an amendment to one of the project’s Biological Opinions. The amendment corrected prior deficiencies and relaxed infeasible mitigation measures, benefiting both the project and the CVFTL by providing the City with greater flexibility to continue construction while expanding monitoring efforts for CVFTL populations.

Following flooding caused by Tropical Storm Hilary in August 2023, Harris’ permitting and compliance team responded quickly to prepare emergency permitting applications and repair notifications for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Harris coordinated directly with agency personnel to secure emergency authorizations in a timely manner while advising the City on which activities could proceed under existing permits and which required emergency approvals. This integrated response allowed construction to remain compliant and on schedule despite a significant weather event, helping the City reduce risk and maintain progress on a critical regional corridor.