Exclusive; Brawley Launches Citywide Street Repaving Project, starting from East to West
BRAWLEY, CA — The City of Brawley has officially launched an ambitious citywide street repaving and maintenance project that aims to resurface approximately 80 miles of roadway over the next four years. With a total budget of $1,594,155.86 allocated to Phase I, the project formally began on May 8, 2025, with work starting on the east side of town—an area that residents and officials agree has long been overdue for upgrades.
Funded primarily by Measure D, Phase I includes various resurfacing techniques such as crack sealing, fog sealing, slurry seal, and restriping. For streets requiring more intensive work, the city is utilizing mill and overlay, which involves grinding down existing asphalt and applying a new rubberized asphalt surface. Severely damaged streets will undergo full rehabilitation, including complete excavation, sub-base compaction, and reconstruction.
The east side improvements are scheduled to be completed by August 11, 2025, followed by Phase II, which will address areas on the south and west sides of Brawley—specifically from 5th Street to La Valencia Drive and Calle Estrella to K Street. That phase is expected to begin in January or February 2026 and will last approximately 90 days, covering another 18 to 20 miles of roads.
In addition to the general street maintenance, the city is also taking targeted action on some of the most criticized roads:
B Street near Oakley Avenue is not included in Phase I but is funded under a 2025/2026 STBG grant for full rehabilitation. The project will go out to bid in July 2025.
North Best Avenue is being repaved in two stages:
Phase I (Main Street to Jones Street) is funded through SB1 and Measure D and is scheduled for completion in 2026.
Phase II (Jones Street to Ganado Drive) is awaiting grant approval and included in the 2026/2027 Capital Improvement Budget.
A comprehensive four-phase Citywide Street Assessment is also underway, designed to guide street improvement projects over the next four years:
Phase I, currently underway, is expected to conclude by July 2025.
Phase II will finish by June 30, 2026.
Phase III will begin in November 2025 and wrap up by June 2027.
Phase IV is scheduled to be completed by June 2028.
Mayor Gil Rebollar emphasized that the focus on the east side is intentional, rooted in fairness and equity.
“The east side of Brawley holds some of the oldest homes, the oldest streets, and generations of long-time residents,” Rebollar said. “Many of them are seniors like my Nana Rosa and Tata Wacho, who built this city, raised their families here, and watched for decades as improvements too often stopped at the train tracks.”
“We’ve heard the comments: ‘It’s always the same streets getting fixed.’ That’s why this project intentionally starts on the east side.”
“As for B Street and Best Avenue, I get the frustration. I’ve driven them, but we are working on it and have got the funding lined up. It’s not happening as soon as we would like, but it is happening.”
“While the City Council votes to guide these priorities, the real work? That’s done by our city staff,” he added. “Public Works Director Rom Medina and his entire team, they’re out there making this happen. It’s easy for elected officials to make promises, but it’s our staff, the folks behind the scenes, doing the heavy lifting every single day to turn those promises into pavement.”
“This is bigger than patching roads. It’s about building trust, connecting neighborhoods, and making sure every resident—no matter what side of town they live on—feels like they belong to a Brawley that’s moving forward.”
The effort is already being recognized by longtime residents.
“I think these repairs have been long overdue, and I’m glad that the City Council has made the decision to get it done, you know, for the whole city. So I’m happy for that,” said Brawley resident Victor Avila.
“These are the most repairs I’ve seen on the streets in the last about 30 years that I’ve lived here,” he added.
The groundwork for the project was laid earlier this year, during a City Council meeting on January 21, 2025, when Public Works Director Rom Medina presented the findings of a detailed street assessment.
“The City of Brawley has a Pavement Management System that allows for the planning of maintenance and repair of city streets, last updated in 2014,” Medina said. “The city receives funds from Measure D, SB1, gas taxes, and various grants for the maintenance and construction of streets.”
To enhance the city’s understanding of current road conditions, Brawley contracted The Holt Group to complete a citywide street evaluation. Jack Holt, speaking on behalf of the group, broke down the findings from Phase I, which covers the east side—from Malan Street to River Street, and 9th Street to Best Road.
“We categorized the streets into maintenance or rehabilitation sections,” Holt said. “Of the 21 miles in Phase I:
– 3 miles need minimal maintenance, costing about $202,000
– 11 miles require moderate maintenance, about $745,000
– 3.5 miles need heavier maintenance, totaling $980,000
– 3 miles require complete rehabilitation, estimated at $7.5 million”
“The rehabilitation sections are very expensive,” Holt added. “You must keep up with your maintenance to prevent having to rehabilitate. This goes for all cities.”
City officials will continue to review the completed assessments to determine the most cost-effective and timely repair strategies based on road condition and available funding.
As the repaving effort moves forward from east to west, Brawley city leaders say they remain committed to transparency, accountability, and equitable investment in the city’s infrastructure.