New Lane Coming To The 91 Freeway, At A Price Tag Of $42M

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Riverside County Transportation Commission voted Wednesday to add a lane to the westbound Riverside (91) Freeway from Corona to Orange County, with construction on the $42 million project to begin as early as 2020.

In an effort to alleviate cross-county gridlock, the commission voted 27-0 to add the lane on a two-mile stretch from Green River Road in Corona to the 241 toll road in Orange County, bringing the total number of general-use lanes to six. On average, more than 260,000 vehicles a day cross the county line using that section of freeway, according to Caltrans.

The new lane could save motorists traveling through the "Corona Crush" on the westbound 91 Freeway up to 15 minutes, transit officials said.

Where the estimated $36.2 million needed to fund the construction phase of the project will come from was not determined at the meeting.

If all goes smoothly and construction begins in the summer 2020, the new lane could be completed by the fall of 2021, according to a project report.

An environmental study of the project is underway.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock