- Overview
- Phase 1 Construction Activities
- Phase 2 Construction Activities
- Photos
- Videos
- Public Meetings
Project Overview
The project is located north of the City of Murrieta, within an unincorporated portion of southwestern Riverside County. The northern end of the project is approximately 4.4 miles east of Interstate 215 (I-215) and the southern end is about 2.8 miles east of I-215.
The SR 79 Widening Project will relieve congestion, improve safety, and provide consistency with other improvements along SR 79.
The SR 79 Widening Project will widen a 5.4 mile segment of SR 79 from two to four lanes between Thompson and Domenigoni Parkway, modify local access, and improve various intersections.
Construction will be performed in two stages, each taking an estimated 12 months to complete. The first stage will take place from Scott Road to Domenigoni Parkway and the second stage will take place from Thompson to Scott Road with intersection improvements at Newport Road.
Phase 1 Overview
| Contractor | SEMA Construction |
| Construction Start | March 2012 |
| Construction Completion | Summer 2013 |
| Construction Cost | $16 million |
| Work Hours |
June – September October – May * Occasional night work to minimize traffic impacts |
Project Improvements – Click map to zoom in.
Phase 2 Overview
| Contractor | Skanska |
| Construction Start | Spring 2013 |
| Construction Completion | Spring 2014 |
| Construction Cost | $10.4 million |
| Work Hours |
Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Night work as necessary to minimize traffic impacts |
Project Improvements
SR-79 from Pourroy Road/Abelia Street to Scott Road/Washington Street
SR 79 and E Newport Road Intersection
Phase 1 Construction Activities
February 6, 2013
Southbound lane on SR 79 to be closed
The southbound SR 79 lane will be closed on February 13, 2013 from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM between Scott Rd. and Domenigoni Parkway. The purpose of this closure is to allow for striping. No detour is necessary.
January 18, 2013
Southbound SR 79 to be closed
The southbound SR 79 lane will be closed on January 24 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM between Scott Rd. and Domenigoni Parkway. The purpose of this closure is to allow construction crews to replace reflectors on the road bed.
November 20, 2012
Blasting was successful!
Here is a video of the November 15th blasting to widen a segment of the SR79.
November 12, 2012
Blasting on SR-79
Riverside County Transportation Department will close a portion of SR 79 for blasting on Thursday, November 15 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The purpose of the blast is to remove boulders as crews work to widen this segment of SR 79 from two lanes to four lanes. Those who have been issued passes may enter SR 79 to go directly to their residence or place of business around 11:00 am. The road will be open for regular use before 10:00 am and after 1:00 pm.
Detour- For motorists traveling south, the detour for this closure is Domenigoni Parkway to Newport Rd to I-215 S and then back to SR 79 using Scott Road. For motorists traveling north on SR 79, exit Scott Rd. to I-215 N to Newport Rd. and then back to SR 79 using Domenigoni Parkway. SR 79 will be fully accessible before 10:00 am and after 1:00 pm.
October 29, 2012
We are happy to report a job well done! Portions of SR 79 were closed at 10:00 a.m. to prepare for the blast to remove large rocks so that the highway could be widened from two lanes to four lanes. The blast went off at 10:16 a.m and the all clear was given at 10:21 a.m. The crews cleared and opened the road at 1:01 p.m. Thank you for your patience during the road closure!
October 19, 2012
Blasting on SR 79 has been rescheduled for Monday, October 29
Blasting on State Route 79 (SR 79) has been rescheduled to Monday, October 29, 2012. A single blast will occur near Patton Avenue after 10 a.m. SR 79 will be closed between Domenigoni Parkway and Scott Road between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the blast and clean up operations. This purpose of this blast is to remove rock as crews work to widen this existing segment of the road from two lanes to four lanes.
9/16/2012
SR-79 southbound will be closed between Scott Rd and Domenigoni Pkwy the nights of September 18 to September 21 between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The purpose of these closures is to allow crews to install traffic screen on the k-rail. No detour is necessary. Flaggers will direct traffic through the closure. Please expect minor delays.
7/13/2012
SR 79 full closures scheduled for August 2 and 6
Riverside County Transportation Department will close portions of SR 79 for blasting on Thursday, August 2 and Monday, August 6 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The blasts will take place near Patton Ave. The purpose of the blast is to remove boulders as crews work to widen this existing segment of SR 79 from two lanes to four lanes. Those who have been issued passes may enter SR 79 to go directly to their residence or place of business around 11:00 am. The road will be open for regular use before 10:00 am and after 1:00 pm.
Detour- For motorists traveling south, the detour for this closure is Domenigoni Parkway to Newport Rd to I-215 S and then back to SR 79 using Scott Road. For motorists traveling north on SR 79, exit Scott Rd. to I-215 N to Newport Rd. and then back to SR 79 using Domenigoni Parkway. SR 79 will be fully accessible before 10:00 am and after 1:00 pm.
6/10/2012
SR 79 Southbound Lane Closure
The southbound lane on SR-79 will be closed between Scott Road and Domenigoni Parkway on the following dates/times. Expect about a 10 minute delay and flaggers will be used as necessary.
Monday, June 18 – Friday, 21, 2012; 9 p.m. – 5 a.m.
6/7/2012
SR 79 is now open
Portions of SR 79 were closed at 10:00 a.m. to prepare for the blast to remove boulders and large rocks so that the highway could be widened from two lanes to four lanes. The blast was a success The all clear was given at 10:20 a.m. and crews cleared and opened the road by 11:00 a.m. There were 212 holes filled with charges and 13,202 cubic yards of material were loosened so that heavy equipment can continue the excavation. Thank you for your patience during the road closure.
- Photo of blast on SR 79 – 6/7/2012 (click to zoom)
6/1/2012
SR-79 Road Closure – Thursday, June 7
Riverside County Transportation Department will close portions of SR 79 for blasting on Thursday, June 7, 2012, from 10 am until 1pm. The blast will take place north of Construction Road and south of Newport Road. This is the first scheduled blast to remove boulders as crews work to widen this existing segment of SR 79 from two lanes to four lanes. Those who have been issued passes may enter SR 79 to go directly to their residence or place of business about 11:00 am.The road will be open for regular use before 10:00 am and after 1:00 pm.
Detour- For motorists traveling south,the detour for this closure is Domenigoni Parkway to Newport Rd to I-215 S and then back to SR 79 using Scott Road. For motorists traveling north on SR 79, exit Scott Rd. to I-215 N to Newport Rd. and then back to SR 79 using Domenigoni Parkway. SR 79 will be fully accessible before 10:00 am and after 1:00 pm.
5/16/2012
Rock Excavation Continues along SR-79
Construction crews have been working on rock excavation activities on the west side of SR-79. The excavated material is being used to build the new roadway embankment. The contractor will continue to excavate with bulldozers and excavators, until the rock material cannot be removed with conventional equipment. If blasting is required, the contractor will provide at least three weeks notice. The County has held various coordination and notification meetings about the potential of blasting. Blasting notifications will be made with the public through the website, flyers for residents, businesses immediately adjacent to the closures areas, and through messages on flashing message signs.
5/13/2012
Lane Closure on May 16, 17 and 18
The southbound lane of SR-79 between Thompson and Domenigoni Parkway will be closed on May 16th, 17th and 18th between the hours of 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM. The purpose of the closure is to allow construction crews to install k-rail.
Flaggers will direct traffic through the closure. No detour is necessary. Please expect a 15 minute delay.
4/18/2012
UPDATE: Road Closures on SR 79 Postponed
Road Closures originally scheduled to begin April 18, 2012 have been postponed until further notice. In order to reduce traffic impacts, the contractor is going to use mechanical methods to remove as much of the material as possible and will only blast in areas where mechanical methods are not successful.
The closure schedule will be posted on this website as it becomes available.
4/10/2012
Road Closures on SR 79 starting April 18, 2012 – End of May 2012
Construction crews will be performing a full road closure on the SR 79 between Domenigoni Parkway and Scott Rd starting April 18, 2012 through the end of May 2012. The full road closure will take place between Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM The purpose of this closure is to allow construction crews to blast away segments of the hillside.
We thank you for your patience while this necessary work is performed.
Phase 2 Construction Activities
Click here for the Phase 2 Project Information Sheet.
April 29, 2013
SR79 Phase 2 – Dirt Truck Hauling Operation
Dirt Haul at the intersection of Scott/Washington and SR 79 (from Pourroy Rd to Scott Rd)
Dump trucks will be delivering dirt from the southeast, southwest, and the northwest corners of Scott/Washington Rd to the northwest corner of Scott/Washington Rd.
Flaggers will be stopping traffic for up to 5 minutes at a time in both directions of travel.
April 30- May 2, 2013, 7am-3:30pm
April 16, 2013
SR 79 Phase 2 – Flagging operations
Flaggers will be stopping traffic for up to 5 minutes at a time on SR 79 between Pourroy Rd. and Scott Rd April 16-17, 23-26 from 7am – 3:30pm.
Dump trucks will be delivering dirt from Pourroy Rd. to Scott Rd. and other portions of the project. The haul route will include SR 79 , Washington St. and Keller Rd. Please expect delays up to 5 minutes.
April 15, 2013
SR 79 Phase 2 – Flagging operations
Flaggers will be stopping traffic for up to 5 minutes at a time on SR 79 between Abelia St. and Scott Rd April 8-12 from 7am – 3:30pm. The purpose is to allow for construction crews to carry materials across SR 79. No detours are necessary. Please expect delays up to 5 minutes.
April 8, 2013
SR 79 Phase 2 – Flagging operations
Flaggers will be stopping traffic for up to 5 minutes at a time on SR 79 between Abelia St. and Scott Rd April 15-19 and 23 from 7am – 3:30pm. The purpose is to allow for construction crews to carry materials across SR 79. No detours are necessary. Please expect delays up to 5 minutes.
March 3, 2013
CANCELED: Closures scheduled for March 4 between 8am – 4pm have been canceled due to work being completed earlier than expected.
February 25, 2013
ALTERNATING LANE CLOSURES: SR-79, North and Southbound lanes between Abelia & Scott Road, will be closed alternately, February 27 – March 1 & March 4, 8am-4pm.
CANCELED: Closures scheduled for March 4 between 8am – 4pm have been canceled due to work being completed earlier than expected.
SR-79 Widening Photos
Videos
Public Meetings
Upcoming Meetings
| Title | Date / Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
Public Meeting to provide a project update |
Monday, 1/14/2013 at 7:00 PM |
Valley-Wide Recreation Park 32665 Haddock St. Winchester, CA 92596 |