The Point: Lane closure has provided safe condition for motorists, crews and reduced one year of construction time

Traveling through the Route 60 Badlands in Riverside County will be easier soon, with the reopening of a lane that closed last summer for construction. The Riverside County Transportation Commission will reopen the westbound Route 60 lane between Beaumont and Moreno Valley on the night of March 5, marking a milestone for the Route 60 Truck Lanes Project.

To prepare for the lane reopening, the CHP will be conducting intermittent daytime traffic breaks of 5-10 minutes the week of February 24 to allow crews to move k-rail and equipment. In addition, the nights of February 24-28, westbound Route 60 will be fully closed and one eastbound lane will be closed for crews to check pavement quality, make repairs and reset k-rail. Nighttime lane closures will occur from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

RCTC closed the lane August 23 to allow crews to safely excavate thousands of cubic yards of dirt from the hillsides to carve out space to build a truck lane in both directions and widen the inner and outer shoulders.

During the closure, crews excavated 1.3 million cubic yards within the project area. This represents about 60 percent of the total 2.1 million of cubic yards that need to be excavated for the project.

Crews are shifting k-rail and checking pavement quality to prepare for the reopening of the westbound lane on March 5.

The timing will improve traffic flow in time for the April festival season in the Coachella Valley.

Closing the westbound lane created safer conditions for motorists and construction crews and saved overall project time. Originally planned as a 3.5-year project, the lane closure has reduced a year of construction time and should allow the project to be completed in about 2.5 years or in late 2021.

RCTC operated Freeway Service Patrol roving tow trucks to help stranded motorists while the westbound lane has been closed. Tow truck drivers assisted more than 1,600 motorists, including 134 with flat tires, 205 with mechanical problems, 75 with overheated engines, and 74 who ran out of gas.

Learn more about the 60 Truck Lanes Project.

The Point: Single Lane Closure Will Enhance Safety, Speed up Construction Time

Expect significant delays, allow extra time and avoid the area by using Interstate 10 during the upcoming closure of one westbound lane on State Route 60 in Riverside County’s Badlands, starting the night of August 22.

The single lane closure will be in effect 24/7 for approximately six months as part of RCTC’s State Route 60 Truck Lanes Project. The closure will cover the full project area – 4.5 miles from Gilman Springs Road to 1.4 miles west of Jack Rabbit Trail.

Closing the westbound lane will create safer conditions for drivers and construction crews and will save time. Originally planned as a 3.5 year project, the lane closure will save a year of construction time and allow the project to be completed in about 2.5 years.

“This project focuses on safety,” said RCTC Chair and County Supervisor Chuck Washington. “Closing this lane makes sense for us to deliver the project safer and faster. Please check traffic conditions before you leave home, be alert in construction areas, and use I-10 as a detour route,” he said.

During the closure, RCTC will be operating Freeway Service Patrol roving tow trucks to help stranded motorists. Eastbound Route 60 will remain open, but nighttime lane closures will occur.

This six-month westbound single lane closure is separate from the weekend closures that are occurring for the Caltrans “60 Swarm” projects between Riverside and Chino.

RCTC began construction in June to add truck lanes in both directions, widen shoulders, flatten roadway curves and increase the height of the center barrier. The new lanes are expected to open in late 2021.

Weather and other factors may affect the construction and lane closure schedule. Register to receive construction updates by visiting rctc.org/60trucklanes, emailing 60trucklanes@rctc.org, following @60TruckLanes on social media, or calling 866-413-6060. Calls made to the helpline will be returned within one business day.