The City of Ventura broke ground this week on the long-anticipated Olivas Park Drive Extension and Levee Project, a transformative $51 million capital improvement that will improve traffic circulation, strengthen flood protection, and expand commercial development opportunities in East Ventura. Construction is expected to continue through summer 2027.
“This isn’t just a road or a levee. It is an investment in Ventura’s future,” said Mayor Dr. Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios. “This project reduces flood risks, eases congestion, and improves access to the Auto Center while activating over 90 acres of undeveloped land and creating the conditions for new businesses and innovation to thrive.”
The project will add nearly a mile of new roadway and levee, including a 4,500-foot extension of Olivas Park Drive and utilities from Golf Course Drive to Auto Center Drive, as well as approximately 5,400 feet of new levee and floodwall along the Santa Clara River. In addition, the project features road widening, pavement upgrades, new traffic signals, flood gates, drainage improvements, utility work, and landscaping. Enhancements will also be made to existing segments of Olivas Park Drive, Perkin Avenue, and Auto Center Drive…