The 11-month Menifee CIP project completed on time
Residents on both the east side and west side of Menifee took no time to use the newly opened Holland Road Overpass over Interstate 215 following its official opening ceremonies Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The long-sought Menifee Capital Improvement Program’s $35 million Holland Road Overpass is now providing another way for the residents of the city to travel over the freeway and reduce heavy traffic at the existing Newport Road and Scott Road I-215 interchanges.
The benefit of the latest Menfiee traffic improvement program was further explained during the Oct. 22 official ribbon cutting ceremony on the new bridge by Awais Sheikh, Office Chief of Caltrans District 8 Project Management, Bill Zimmerman, Mayor of the City of Menifee, and Kurt Wilson, Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) executive director.
Sheikh said at the ceremony, “The project basically spotlights what accomplishments can be achieved with different partner collaborations. This is a real example of collaboration from the public, private entities, city, and the state. I look forward to working together on more projects. Let us continue to strive for better collaboration on these projects. I am really excited about the potential and look forward to working with you in the days to come.”
The funding for the Holland Road traffic improvement project came from the American Rescue Project Fund (ARPA), the WRCOG, and the city’s Measure DD Quality of Life one-cent sales tax measure.
Mayor Zimmerman said, “This is a day to celebrate…anytime we are reducing traffic congestion and making improvements, it is a reason to celebrate.” He mentioned that Holland Road is a “local road, not a commuter road like Newport and Scott roads. It is going to be for us; for the college (MSJC); for people who want to shop, to work and reduce their day’s timing… It’s a wonderful thing for all of us.”
Each city council member thanked individuals from city, county, state and federal governments who helped bring the project to life.
WRCOG’s Kurt Wilson said, “The money that comes to this project, $11.2 from WRCOG and TUMF (Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee) programs, is money that came from the folks and neighbors here. We work together and we get things done and are better off for everybody. Hats off to the city and everyone in this project.” He called attention and thanked those who contributed to the project including city staff Nick Fidler, Carlos Geronimo, City Manager Armando Villa and others.
Following the comments, the crowd gathered in the middle of the overpass for the official ribbon cutting ceremony under a huge American flag hung with fire department ladder trucks from Menifee and Perris. The Paloma Valley High School Navy Junior R.O.T.C, Hybrid Team of cadets put on a highly coordinated military rifle display before the crowd.
Dignitaries that lined up behind the ribbon before it was cut included Mayor Zimmerman, Caltrans representative Shiekh, State Senator Kelly Seyarto, WRCOG Executive Director Kurt Wilson, Menifee councilmembers Ricky Estrada, Lesa Sobek and Dean Deines, Director of Public Works Nick Fidler, CIP Principal Engineer Carlos Geronimo, Menifee City Manager Armando Villa, and other engineers and contractors. Once the ribbon was cut, some climbed into classic cars from the Sun City CruiZers club to take the first official motor crossing of the Holland Road Overpass to Haun Road, with flags flying and cheers from the growing crowd.
Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com.
