Half Moon Bay's long-anticipated Highway 92 improvement project will make the trek to this year's Art & Pumpkin Festival much easier and pleasant for motorists. The festival will be held on October 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on historic Main Street.

In August, the primary gateway to Half Moon Bay's picturesque downtown re-opened with a newly paved and re-configured roadway, additional traffic lanes, re-sequenced stoplights, landscaped medians, decorative street lighting and underground utilities all adding up to greatly improved traffic flow with a pleasing aesthetic.

Highway 92 was widened from two lanes to four lanes in the main arteries around Main Street and Highway 1 and the traffic signals were upgraded using the latest technology.

In addition to greatly improved traffic flow, the completed project provides better access for bicycles and pedestrians.

"Highway 92 is the Pumpkin Festival's most critical artery," said Cameron Palmer, Chairman of the festival committee. "These improvements will make all the difference in the world getting in and out of town and hopefully bring back visitors afraid to come because of the traffic."

The $21.8 million project was funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the City of Half Moon Bay and state and federal sources.