The Point: Project will expand overcrossing to improve traffic flow in Eastvale, Jurupa Valley

The Riverside County Transportation Commission joined the Riverside County Transportation Department and cities of Eastvale and Jurupa Valley on September 26 to commemorate the start of construction of the $48 million Limonite Avenue Interstate 15 Interchange Project.

Led by the Riverside County Transportation Department, the project will build a new eight-lane overcrossing at Interstate 15 with three through-lanes and two turn-lanes in both directions. The project also will widen the off-ramps from two lanes to four lanes, add two new loop on-ramps, and widen Limonite Avenue to four lanes in both directions between Hamner Avenue and Wineville Avenue.

Recognizing the significant traffic congestion that Riverside County residents face daily, the State of California dedicated $427 million to five major transportation projects, including the Limonite Avenue Interchange. Senate Bill 132, approved by the Governor and State Legislature in April 2017, will allow these five projects to be completed by 2023. Please click for more information about the SB 132 projects or the I-15 Limonite Project.

Event speakers included Senator Richard Roth, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Riverside County Supervisor John Tavaglione, Eastvale Mayor Clint Lorimore, Jurupa Valley Mayor Micheal Goodland, Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner Stan Sniff, and CHP Captain John Tyler.

RCTC Executive Director Anne Mayer served as the emcee.

Speakers emphasized cooperation and partnership among the agencies involved and among the projects along the I-15 corridor.  The Limonite Interchange is located within RCTC’s Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project, and team members for both projects are working closely to coordinate construction efforts.

The Limonite project team expects the new roadway to open in fall 2019, prior to the holiday shopping season. Project officials expect improved traffic flow in Jurupa Valley and Eastvale, once the new roadway opens. Average daily traffic on Limonite Avenue currently is 33,050 vehicles; this number is projected to grow to a daily average of 65,000 vehicles by 2035.

The Point: Local and California leaders gathered in Norco to celebrate the start of construction to add express lanes to I-15 between State Route 60 and Cajalco Road..

A crowd of well over 250 people, including state legislators, California Transportation Commissioners, local leaders and a mounted posse color guard, celebrated an equestrian-themed ground breaking ceremony for the I-15 Express Lanes Project.  The event took place at the SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco on December 6 and was hosted by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

The I-15 Express Lanes Project adds two express lanes in each direction of the I-15 for a distance of approximately 15 miles between State Route 60 near the San Bernardino County Line and Cajalco Road in Corona.  Construction on the Design-Build project is expected to begin in earnest early next year and will conclude in 2020.

RCTC is investing $471 million in the project which travels through the cities of Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco, and Corona. Funding for the effort includes a combination of Riverside County’s local Measure A half-cent sales tax program, state funding, and a federal TIFIA loan.  The corridor serves a rapidly growing area and connects to major travel corridors including State Routes 60 and 91 and the addition of the express lanes will provide needed capacity for carpools, vanpools, and transit users.

RCTC Commissioner Berwin Hanna, a Norco City Councilman, opened the event and expressed optimism and excitement for the project. “Today is the start of a project that will reward us with better mobility for our residents, businesses, employers, and anyone who drives through our community,” said Hanna.

“Widening the I-15 will create jobs, improve the commute, and provide additional travel choices.”

For more information on the I-15, please go to: http://i15project.info/