This week the California Department of Transportation contractor crews will be continuing the $4.24m bridge work on State Route 74 (Ortega Highway), Morrill Canyon Bridge, located east of the Riverside County Line, between Ortega Oaks Candy Store and Tenaja Truck Trail. Crews will perform work in various locations throughout the project zone.
Weeknight and weekend closures were required through May 11 to perform k-rail installation, structure work, HMA paving, excavation, abutment and various other work activities. Weekdays, all work was weather and material dependent with some delays, which could prolong that work. Drivers should be aware of any changes at that location.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission’s I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project has required an extended full closure of the northbound I-15 Temecula Parkway on-ramp in Temecula from May 11 through Monday, May 19 at 5 am.
The extended closure is required to demolish and reconstruct portions of the on-ramp to provide an additional lane for the Smart Freeway system. This work will require the use of heavy construction equipment during the extended closure. For more details, visit: rctc.org/TemeculaClosures.
Meanwhile, for the many Southwest Riverside motorists looking forward to vacation time may find some “pain in the pass” as some reports relay that Caltrans is working on the Interstate 15 near Interstate 10 on the corridor freight project and the extension of the Express Lanes in a collaborative effort with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). This means that there may still be some full closures in that 8 mile stretch of the freeway.
That 8 mile project is from Cantu-Galleano Ranch Road in Jurupa Valley to just north of Foothill Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga and will add express lanes in the median of Interstate 15 to join the existing express lanes in Riverside County and add auxiliary lanes to improve traffic operations and safety in the vicinity of the 15 Freeway, 60 Freeway and the 10 Freeway interchanges, according to the three traffic agencies
Some of the closures occurred last week but more may be needed which may delay some vacationers this month.
Murrieta/Menifee
Caltrans construction continues near the City of Menifee and City of Murrieta. Crews are scheduled to work on both the southbound and northbound directions of Interstate 215. Day work will occur behind the k-rails this month. The day work continues with traffic control at Scott Road interchange on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The night work will continue in early June from Sunday to Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Nightly operations will require traffic control and may require alternating lane closures to safely assist crews with hydroseeding, asphalt paving and guardrail activities at various locations.The project aims to improve road surface, update shoulder rumble strips, enhance culverts, upgrade guardrails, stabilize slopes, and boost highway worker safety along the stretch near Murrieta, from 1 mile north of Clinton Keith Road to 1 mile north of Newport Road. Commuter access will remain available during daytime work.
Winchester
The California Department of Transportation alerts the public that construction crews are soon to start work in Riverside County at the junction of State Route 79 (SR 79) Winchester Road and Haddock St. Currently, crews are marking utility lines in the project zone.
Daytime work began on Monday, May 12 and will continue weekly from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Commuter and pedestrian access will remain during this work activity. Please note that various shoulder closures will occur in the project zone both northbound and southbound on Winchester Road between Olive Ave. and Simpson Road. Lane closures may be required with traffic control in place. Signs will be placed to indicate work locations and closures ahead. Crews will perform various electrical, concrete, roadway and signage work.Traffic holds may occur for the relocation of equipment on site. Plan ahead for delays. Motorists are asked to adhere to all signage and slow their speed in the construction zone, Check https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov to view live traffic conditions.
Perris
Caltrans is working in Perris on Interstate 215 on a 6.2 stretch of the freeway that will provide smoother pavement and safer driving conditions when the project is completed. Work crews began project operations on October 14, 2024. Commuters will experience slowdowns and road closures until fall 2026 as repair work on the roadway will occur on both the northbound and southbound directions between San Jacinto River Bridge and the Ramona Expressway in Perris.
That project will require paving operations Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and alternating ramp closures may be required throughout the project with alternating lane closures, but one lane will always be open. Dugouts will occur in the southbound directions and then move northbound. Some traffic holds may be needed for the moving of heavy equipment.
Lake Elsinore
Caltrans construction contractors will continue with emergency work requiring daytime flagging and lane closure operations on State Route 74 (Ortega Highway) near Lake Elsinore. Contractors will be working on the repair project from Grand Avenue to Tenaja Truck Trail.
Daytime flagging will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dependent on contractor availability. Crews have made significant progress on removing and replacing damaged culverts, clearing out heavy debris from our drainage systems, replacing damaged signs, and removing burned trees, all damages sustained from the Airport Fire. Now the crews will continue to focus on slope stabilization and the installation of new fencing.
Hemet
Caltrans has its final work on SR-74 between Warren Road and Fairview Avenue in Valle Vista. Caltrans announced they expect to finish up this long-time project by the end of this month.
The finishing work on this project may still include nighttime inspections, for seal installation and monument work from Lyon Street to Fairview and electrical loop work at signal locations. Please proceed with caution in the electrical work crews in those areas. Areas as there may be some flashing red light signals. That requires safety stop, then proceed with caution and following the California 4-way vehicle code rule.
Aguanga/Anza
Caltrans alerts the public that work will continue to install guardrail and flashing beacons at various locations on State Route 79 from Aguanga to Temecula. Construction costs for this project is $6.3m and includes safety features to install flashing beacons at two locations for improved driver alertness. However, Caltrans reports no work is scheduled on Highway 371 through Anza this week.
Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com.
