New RivCo Freeway Interchange Opens, Ending Lengthy $137M Project

CORONA, CA — After two years of work, the new, reconfigured interchange connecting the Corona (71) Expressway with the Riverside (91) Freeway in Corona was slated to be fully operational Monday, officials say.

The new, non-tolled, two-lane direct connector replaced the existing single-lane loop connector. The newly realigned eastbound 91 Green River Road on-ramp will now provide direct access to the new northbound 71 connector and eastbound 91 general-purpose lanes, according to an official statement.

Dubbed the "71/91 Interchange Project," the project has been underway since the winter of 2023. The stretch of roadway underwent final touch-ups that required closures through the weekend and opened for drivers transitioning onto either corridor at 6 a.m. Monday.

The $137 million "71/91 Interchange Project" has entailed replacing the current single-lane connector from the eastbound 91 to the 71 with a two-lane connector loop, which will accommodate a larger number of vehicles.

The expressway has also been realigned to create space for the new connector.

More than one-third of the project funding — $58.1 million — was provided by the California Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, which increased gasoline taxes to fund infrastructure and other projects. The county's Measure A receipts, generated by a half-cent sales tax, have covered a share of the expense, while federal and other sources make up the difference.

Updates on the project are available at www.rctc.org/projects.