Victorville is preparing for additional upgrades along Mojave Drive, with planned work ranging from pavement improvements to sidewalks, accessibility upgrades and traffic signal changes.

A major Victorville roadway project is moving closer to construction following the approval of nearly $8.2 million in transportation funding.

The Victorville City Council approved the grant from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority to support the third phase of the Mojave Drive Improvement Project. Funding will be used toward rehabilitation or reconstruction of a portion of the roadway as well as necessary design and environmental work.

Once completed, the improvements are expected to provide a better driving experience while also addressing pedestrian access and other infrastructure along the corridor.

Phase three will involve several types of improvements rather than simply replacing worn pavement.

Plans call for widening portions of the roadway, modifying traffic signals and improving driveways. New or improved pedestrian infrastructure will also be part of the project, including sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps.

Together, the upgrades are intended to improve how vehicles and pedestrians move through the Mojave Drive corridor.

The latest funding continues a larger, multi-phase effort to improve the roadway and modernize infrastructure along one of Victorville’s heavily traveled routes.

Large road projects typically bring temporary disruptions, and city leaders are already acknowledging that motorists may need some patience while the work is underway.

Mayor Liz Becerra described the construction period as likely to be a “headache,” but pointed to the improved driving conditions residents can expect once the work is finished.

The project will ultimately contribute to a smoother trip along Mojave Drive between Seventh Street and Highway 395, according to the mayor.

For residents and businesses that regularly use the corridor, the project represents a tradeoff familiar throughout the growing High Desert: temporary construction impacts in exchange for infrastructure designed to better serve the community in the years ahead.

As Victorville continues to grow, transportation infrastructure remains an important piece of accommodating additional residents, businesses and traffic.

The nearly $8.2 million grant allows the city to move another stage of the Mojave Drive project forward while addressing several needs at once, from the condition and capacity of the roadway to pedestrian accessibility.

Drivers may eventually encounter construction activity as phase three progresses, but the end result is expected to be a more modern corridor with improvements for motorists and pedestrians alike.