Engineers and city staff met with downtown Bakersfield residents at Rabobank Arena to discuss proposed improvements along 24th Street after city council approved the widening project last year.

Kris Budak is a civil engineer with the city and says people brought questions to Wednesday’s open house.

“They’re really curious about the sound walls on the north,” she said. “Are there sound walls on the south? Yes, there is one sound wall between Elm Street and just east of Beach, but there’s no other sound walls on the south.”

The project will include added lanes, sound walls and aesthetic improvements. She says the design should be completed by fall, and construction should start in late 2016.

– Anthony Pollreisz