Project Overview

Over the years, the residents of Temescal Valley have seen an increase in regional traffic on the Interstate 15 freeway, as well as an overflow of traffic onto Temescal Canyon Road, the only north-south alternate to Interstate 15 within the Temescal Canyon corridor.  The increased traffic has significantly increased the time residents spend driving their children to school and commuting to work. 

Until additional travel lanes can be added to Interstate 15, widening Temescal Canyon Road from a rural two-lane road to a four-lane street will help provide relief for residents and improve response time for emergency service providers.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

The County successfully secured $28 million from SB1 Gas Tax and other funding sources to widen two segments of Temescal Canyon Road. 

• The Dos Lagos Widening Segment - located from Leroy Road northerly 0.6 mile to Dos Lagos Drive

• The Dawson Canyon Widening Segment -  located from Dawson Canyon Road to 0.7 mile north of Dawson Canyon Road

Construction began in December 2018.  Work will include clearing the corridor, relocating power poles, installing storm drain, removing the existing roadway, and paving a fully widened street with curbs. When finished, the street will include two travel lanes in each direction, a center two-way left turn lane, and painted on-street bike lanes, as well as sidewalk in developed areas.

The County's construction contract additionally includes the following construction along Temescal Canyon Road.

• The Coldwater Creek Drainage Crossing - located south of Tom's Farms just north of Glen Ivy Road, the existing drainage crossing over the road will be replaced with a concrete box culvert under the roadway

• The Slurry Seal Segment -  located between the Dawson Canyon Widening Segment and Dos Lagos Widening Segment, this existing 0.7 mile long four-lane road segment will receive a slurry seal, repainting of pavement markings, and the addition of on-street painted bike lanes

The County is coordinating the construction of its Temescal Canyon Road project with the transportation projects of other agencies currently under construction within the Temescal Canyon corridor.

• The Interstate 15 / Cajalco Road Interchange -  this interchange expansion project is led by the City of Corona

• The Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project Southern Extension - located from Cajalco Road 14 miles southerly to the State Route 74 (Central Avenue), this regional project is led by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

• The Interstate 15 Express Lanes Project - located from Cajalco Road 15 miles northerly to the State Route 60 freeway, this regional project is led by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)

Aware of the traffic impact that multiple projects can have on the traveling public, the County has restricted its contractor from performing construction activities that would unnecessarily impact morning and afternoon commuters.  Furthermore, to minimize inconvenience to the public and to expedite the completion of the project, the County has offered its construction contractor the option to work nights and weekends.

CURRENT PROJECTS

The County is beginning the design of the next series of widening projects in the Temescal Canyon corridor:

• The El Cerrito Segment - located along Temescal Canyon Road from Tom Barnes Road northerly 0.8 mile to El Cerrito Road

• The Ontario Avenue Segment -  located along Ontario Avenue from El Cerrito Road northerly 0.6 mile to State Street

When widening is completed, there will be a fully widened four-lane street along 5.7 miles from the Interstate 15/Ontario Avenue interchange to the Interstate 15/Temescal Canyon Road interchange near Tom's Farms.