79 Realignment Project

091725 79 Project Map with Legend

Status: Long-Term

Location: Western Riverside County

Type of Project: Highways

Location: State Route 79, San Jacinto-Hemet areas

Construction: Dependent upon funding

Investment: $1 billion (estimated)

OVERVIEW

The Riverside County Transportation Commission, in partnership with, the County of Riverside and the cities of San Jacinto and Hemet, proposes to build a new 12-mile county expressway from south of Domenigoni Parkway north to Gilman Springs Road with two lanes in each direction. The new expressway is designed to improve safety and connectivity for the growing communities of Winchester, Hemet, San Jacinto, and surrounding areas in Riverside County.  

First conceptualized as a state route, the project was later converted to a county facility. The project will be renamed since it will not be part of the state highway system. The project is segmented into three buildable segments that will be constructed in phases and features a dedicated transportation corridor and multipurpose trail. The three segments include: 

Design enhancements will also be considered to bolster the project’s appeal for state and federal grants – these enhancements may include multimodal features like bus rapid transit. 

The Environmental Document for the project was approved in December 2016. In August 2025, the Commission awarded a contract for the State Route 79 (SR-79) Realignment Project Innovative Financing Feasibility Study (IFFS) to explore alternative funding and delivery options for the project. Final design and engineering for Segment 3 are anticipated to be completed in 2027.

  • 2004: Public scoping meeting held – formal start of environmental process
  • 2005: Evaluate and redefine alternatives
  • 2008: Conduct required field surveys and prepare technical reports
  • 2009-2012: Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)
  • 2013: Circulate Draft EIR/EIS for public review and comment, conduct public hearings and review comments
  • 2014: Preparation of Partially Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS, identify Preferred Alternative for Project
  • 2015: Partially recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS available for public review and comment
  • 2016: Publish Final EIR/EIS, prepare and publish ROD
  • 2023: Corridor Analysis Study segmented project into three buildable segments to be constructed in phases
  • 2024: Commission approves award of design for Segment 3
  • 2025: Commission awards contract for Innovative Financing Feasibility Study (IFFS) to explore alternative funding and delivery options for the project

Environmental Documents

Record of Decision (Aug 2016), click here.

Project Map

Draft Environmental Documents
Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

The new 71/91 interchange opened to motorists on Monday, June 23, 2025.


The new, non-tolled, two-lane direct connector replaced the existing single-lane loop connector and the newly realigned eastbound 91 Green River Rd. on-ramp now provides direct access to the new northbound 71 connector and eastbound 91 general purpose lanes.