14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 8-14, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Many making their way across Fremont Boulevard near the borders of Monterey, Seaside and Del Rey Oaks may have noticed the ongoing traffic backups and ever-rotating lane closures needed to construct the Canyon Del Rey segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway, or FORTAG. Construction on the project began in August 2024 and the Transportation Agency for Monterey County anticipates that it will be completed by December. The segment is the first component of the larger 28-mile FORTAG project, which is intended to provide pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities with a safer route in and around the former Fort Ord. The Canyon Del Rey segment runs from North Fremont Boulevard and Canyon Del Rey through Work Memorial Park and Del Rey Park, under Canyon Del Rey into the corner of the Frog Pond Wetland Reserve, back up to Carlton Drive, then to Plumas Avenue, ending at Del Rey Woods Elementary School. A new roadway bridge on Canyon Del Rey (Highway 218) is nearing completion, and will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to pass under the road through a 10-and-a-half-foot-tall passage. On Sept. 22, the Del Rey Oaks City Council received an update about the project from TAMC Executive Director Todd Muck. The mayor and council members voiced frustration and concerns about the execution of construction so far, including rebar jutting from walls, damage to the city’s corporate yard and visible cracks in new concrete, among other issues. Muck assured the council that the items were included in a “punch list” that the contractor, Graniterock, is required to complete before the job is done. Muck said that some at TAMC have also been frustrated. “We do have to get to the end and find out if we’re all happy, and if we’re not, we have to resolve it,” Muck said. TAMC Community Outreach Coordinator Theresa Wright says it is typical for a construction project to have a list of remaining tasks, and the construction contract will remain in effect through February 2027 to allow for completion of any remaining contract requirements. “In this case, our project team is maintaining a punch list of any incomplete, damaged or incorrect work that must be fixed before the job is fully finished and final payment is released,” she says. “An example of a punch list item is the handrails on Carlton [Drive] that had installation issues that are in the process of being resolved.” The construction contract was awarded at $20.7 million, with $9.2 million from a grant and the remaining $11.5 million from Measure X. Carlton Drive reopened on Sept. 28 after a five-month closure due to the construction. TAMC is working on the design for two upcoming FORTAG segments: the California Avenue segment, which will begin construction in 2027 and run from Patton Parkway to Imjin Road in Marina, and the Jerry Smith segment from Imjin Road to the Jerry Smith Trailhead, set to begin in 2028. End in Sight As the first segment of FORTAG nears completion, officials voice concerns. By Aric Sleeper The first segment of the FORTAG project includes work currently underway on improvements such as sidewalks, curb ramps and traffic signals at Fremont Boulevard and Canyon Del Rey. NEWS “We do have to get to the end and find out if we’re all happy.” DANIEL DREIFUSS www.folktalewinery.com For more information and to see all of our events and experiences please scan th QR code FALL AT FOLKTALE THE HARVEST EXPERIENCE THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES DINE IN THE VINES WINE SENSORY EXPERIENCE
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