Starting Oct. 1 and through March 2026 motorists may want to find an alternative route to Hatch Road.

The city of Ceres will be embarking on installation of a water transmission line from the new surface water project down Hatch Road between Mitchell Road and Moffet Road.

“Hatch Road will become a mess for a while,” City Engineer Michael Beltran told the Ceres Council last week. “That will hamper traffic in in that corridor.”

The contract calls for 80 working days.

The city is waiting for the contractors to submit detour plans for truck and vehicular traffic, for the Central Avenue closure in the last week of October.

“We want to make sure that we can get the pipeline underneath the canal lateral that crosses Hatch Road at Central Avenue, generally done within the first week or two of November.”

According to the city’s website, Hatch Road will become “extremely congested during construction” with land closures, reduced speeds and construction equipment in the road. Work hours will generally be during the daytime.

In addition, the city will be kicking off its pavement preservation project this week. Slurry and cape seals will be done in residential areas. Site area #1 includes Lucchesi Lane, Vlach Way, Greenback Lane, Cling Street, Larmuseal Lane, Wesley Drive, Always Drive, Foster Drive, Cadillac Drive, Cullen Avenue, Cognac Way, Larsen Drive, Winepress Lane, Verdea Court, Woodworth Avenue, Musick Avenue, Herndon Road and Richland Avenue.

Site area #2 includes: Canyon Drive, Lehi Avenue, Mountain Ridge Drive, Walter Drive, Pine Ridge Drive, Grover Drive, Fruit Ridge Court, Flat Ridge Court, Lander Court, Oak Ridge Court, Rocky Ridge Court, Oakridge Court, Moffet Road and Hatch Road.

Site area #3 calls for slurry or cape sealing on Don Pedro Road, Daisy Tree Lane, Red Haven Lane, Buckthorn Lane, Almond Grove Lane and Dano Court.