NASHUA / CASTROVILLE AREA, Monterey County — October 30, 2026. A long-term project to improve the surface of Nashua Road could eventually involve approximately $9 million in county transportation investment. Monterey County’s draft 2026–27 through 2030–31 Capital Improvement Plan identifies the section from Cooper Road to State Route 1 for rehabilitation under project number PW 2024-09.
The draft lists the project phase as “Not Started” and says engineering/design is planned to begin in fiscal 2029–30. A listed capital project is not evidence that Nashua Road is under construction today, that a contractor has been selected or that lane closures have been announced.
What work does the proposal contemplate?
Public Works proposes pavement rehabilitation using roadway reconstruction or recycling techniques and/or hot-mix asphalt, intended to extend service life and maintain access for nearby businesses, farms, residents and drivers connecting with Highway 1. The document describes the work as rehabilitation of a county-maintained road, rather than building a new highway.
The exact choice between recycling and new asphalt, the number of repair segments, intersection treatments and the eventual construction staging remain matters for later design and funding action. An estimate does not authorize work in the absence of a project schedule and executed agreement.
How much money is projected?
The county’s draft planning table assigns $800,000 to design and environmental review, $800,000 to construction management and $7,400,800 to construction. The combined estimate is $9,000,800, rounded in the headline to about $9 million.
Potential sources listed in the draft are Measure X and California’s SB 1 road funding, each contributing a projected $4,500,400. Those are planning allocations, not a verified final expenditure or a guarantee that the project cost will remain unchanged when construction goes out to bid.
Why does the schedule matter?
Engineering and construction may not happen in the same fiscal year. The proposed 2029–30 design start means local road users should not assume that a 2026 budget discussion signals imminent repairs on their commute. Budget priorities, pavement assessments and available revenue can change during the next several years.
The broader county capital plan also contains a different project for Cooper Road. Although Nashua Road begins at Cooper Road, the Nashua proposal is its own corridor-level project and must not be conflated with past resurfacing work on the neighboring route.
How to follow future decisions
Residents can ask Monterey County Public Works for the current approved capital plan, updated pavement-condition data, a design-scope map, and information about anticipated construction staging near State Route 1. The draft lists J. Pascua, (831) 755-8963 as its project contact.
For current travel conditions and short-term work, use the county’s road advisory page and Caltrans QuickMap. Neither an old project description nor its proposed dollar amount substitutes for real-time traffic information.
Official document and reporting limits
Monterey County Budget Committee, May 26, 2026, draft FY 2026–27 through FY 2030–31 Capital Improvement Plan, project PW 2024-09, page 129; earlier county capital-plan consideration.
Nashua News, October 30, 2026. The figures and projected timetable are from a 2026 draft, not a confirmed bid or ongoing work. Subsequent county changes should be reported by updating this article at the original URL.
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