55-Hour Carmageddon Coming: Major Fwy Onramps Close Ahead Of Massive Improvements

TEMECULA, CA — A major 55-hour closure of the northbound I-15 onramps from Winchester Road is the next piece in solving a massive traffic pinch point through Temecula and Murrieta

The closure isn't quite Carmageddon, but for many drivers in Southwest Riverside County, it's close. Drivers who wish to use the northbound on-ramps to the I-15 Freeway at Winchester Road will need to follow detour signs from Friday at 11 p.m. and end by 6 a.m. Monday.

The full I-15/French Valley Parkway Improvement project, ongoing in the area for years, was initially estimated to cost $139 million. The last phase of completion was opened in April of 2014.

This weekend's project keeps Phase 2 on schedule, with the full closure of both I-15 northbound onramps, from westbound and eastbound Winchester Road.

During the closures, detour signs will be posted, directing motorists to the nearest northbound I-15 onramps, which are either Rancho California Road to the south or Murrieta Hot Springs Road to the north. Both options experience significant traffic, especially during rush hours.

The I-15/French Valley Parkway improvement project aims to alleviate bottleneck traffic on northbound I-15 between Winchester Road and the I-15/I-215 interchange.

"Currently, the flows from the on-ramps would mix in with 15 and folks would have to 'crisscross' to get to either the 15 or 215," Avlin Odviar, Temecula's Project Manager for Phase 2, said in a video news release. "With the new bridge and new undercrossing, those flows will now be separated and traffic will flow much faster and much safer."

Please plan accordingly, and remember to reduce your speed in the work zone. Detours will be available.

Road closures this weekend include:

Winchester Road straight and loop on-ramps

• Through Thursday, April 24: Closures nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day

15 Fwy to Murrieta Hot Springs Road off-ramp in Murrieta

• Tuesday, April 22; Thursday, April 24; and Sunday, April 27, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day.

Closure of the 215 Freeway’s Murrieta Hot Springs Road off-ramp in Murrieta

• Through Thursday, April 24, nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day.
• Friday, April 25, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday, April 26
• Sunday, April 27, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, April 26

Closure of the 215 Freeway connector in Murrieta

• Wednesday, April 23, through Friday, April 25, Sunday, April 27, 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday, April 28. Open Saturday, April 26.

Alternating lane closures

• Scheduled on the 15 and 215 freeways, along with the nighttime closures this week and weekend.

Phase 1 construction was completed in 2014. The work helped lessen dangerous traffic backups at the southbound I-15 exit for Winchester Road and added an offramp alternative for southbound Murrieta drivers at French Valley Parkway.

Phase 3 improvements will alleviate additional congestion at the Winchester Road interchange, adding more alternative connections to and from the freeway. It will also include new cross-town connections for vehicles, transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Phase 4's future work will provide "ultimate traffic relief" at the French Valley Parkway interchange, including the northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramps, as well as the southbound collector/distributor system along I-15.

Read more about the I-15/French Valley Parkway improvement project here.

Related:

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