Featured photo: road repair and paving equipment by Ray Donnelly / Unsplash. Illustrative only; not crews working on Castroville’s SR-183.
CASTROVILLE, MONTEREY COUNTY — OCTOBER 18, 2026. Road crews are beginning another major paving phase on State Route 183, also known as Merritt Street, in Castroville. Caltrans District 5 says nighttime operations will take place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with alternating lane restrictions while crews resurface the road between Del Monte Avenue and the Highway 156/183 crossing bridge.
Will Merritt Street remain open?
According to the October 15 state update, one lane in each direction remains available for travelers on SR-183 while work progresses. Alternating controls and temporary restrictions can produce backups. Caltrans estimates delays of up to 15 minutes during peak periods, especially while heavy equipment moves through the corridor.
Where is the paving happening?
The agency says workers are resurfacing the state route starting at its southern section near Del Monte Avenue and moving north toward Highway 1. Overnight grinding and repaving occur in the section from Del Monte Avenue toward the Highway 156/183 crossing bridge. Daily construction also includes new utility boxes, irrigation work, curbs, gutters, accessible sidewalk ramps and retaining walls at multiple locations.
Businesses remain open, but access may change
Caltrans specifically says local businesses remain open during the work. Some phases will temporarily affect parking, sidewalks or driveways, but the contractor is required to maintain pedestrian access to residences and commercial locations. That does not mean each parking space or driveway is continuously available. Travelers with mobility requirements or planned deliveries should check specific access arrangements and obey crew guidance.
What is included in the $38 million project?
The larger SR-183/Merritt Street Castroville Improvement Project involves roadway rehabilitation, bridge maintenance, accessible ramps, sidewalk work, transit stops, drainage-related infrastructure and improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Caltrans identifies Granite Construction, Inc. of Watsonville as contractor and expects this stage of construction to be completed by the end of 2026. That date is tentative and the $38 million applies to the broader project, not this single week of paving.
What should drivers do now?
Plan extra time for nighttime trips, use signed crossing points, slow down for workers and avoid driving into coned work areas. Cyclists should be especially alert when lanes narrow, and pedestrians should not assume normal sidewalk routes are available after dark. Caltrans will post message signs ahead of the affected sections.
Official updates
See the October 15 Caltrans construction update and QuickMap. Work schedules and access arrangements may change with weather, materials and crew conditions.
What changes for residents? Night paving and ongoing pedestrian-access improvements will alter Merritt Street travel through this construction period. The project aims for safer crossings and a more durable roadway, but residents should continue using Caltrans notices for actual completion and access details.
Primary source: Caltrans District 5, October 15, 2026.
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