KESQ.com News Services

MECCA - The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a $2.7 million project to rehabilitate streets, sidewalks, outdoor lighting and other infrastructure throughout the city of Mecca.

"Not only will this project beautify downtown Mecca, but it will bring additional safeguards to this highly pedestrian community," Supervisor Marion Ashley said.

He praised the late Supervisor Roy Wilson's staff for guiding the revitalization plans to fruition. The project has been in the works for five years.

According to the county Economic Development Agency, planned improvements include resurfacing streets, upgrading sidewalks and curb and gutter modifications, as well as installing new street lights.

The project area covers about seven miles.

County officials noted that Mecca is a "gateway" community, visited by tourists en route to Painted Canyons and Joshua Tree National Monument. It's also heavily used by commercial truckers connecting to Interstate 10 via Highway 111 and the state Route 86 expressway.

Improvements will take place in four phases.

Redevelopment funds, gleaned from property taxes, will be used to fund the project, which should get under way in the next three to six months, according to county officials.