Deceleration Lane Coming To Half-Mile Segment Of I-15 In Corona

CORONA, CA — An Inland Empire lawmaker Thursday announced that Caltrans will move forward with reconfiguring a half-mile segment of Interstate 15 in Corona to facilitate safe flows of traffic onto a freeway exit.

Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Norco, said that months of negotiations between his office and Caltrans officials had netted a positive outcome in the form of a $6 million project to add a "deceleration lane" to southbound I-15 between Old Temescal Road and East Ontario Avenue.

"This project will help reduce traffic congestion and related collisions in the area — at no additional toll or cost to commuters," Essayli said.

The lawmaker first contacted Caltrans Director Tony Tavares in March regarding the need for changes along the heavily traveled corridor, characterizing I-15 generally as replete with "soul-crushing traffic congestion" during peak travel periods.

Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Jeffries has described the area as a "parking lot" due to bumper-to-bumper tie-ups most weekdays.

The ensuing talks between Essayli and his staff and Caltrans officials led to the determination that the most pressing need was for the deceleration space.

The segment designated for modification lacks a separate lane where motorists can queue up to exit the freeway, resulting in snarled conditions when southbound commuters are packed onto the artery.

"The safety and operational improvement approved by the California Transportation Commission, coupled with the recently announced project to eliminate the lane drop under the Cajalco Bridge, are going to improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of accidents in this critical corridor," Corona City Councilman Wes Speake said.

"This will make quality of life better for both the citizens of Corona and every hardworking commuter trying to get home to their family. And every car we can keep on the freeway is a car we keep off the streets of Corona."

Essayli said "finding solutions that provide traffic relief is one of the reasons I ran for office."

"My community is plagued with safety issues caused by traffic, and this project will help reduce the dangers and frustrations endured by my constituents traveling through Corona on I-15," he said.

Caltrans will seek bids on the project in the coming months, and after a contract is awarded, road work will get underway, though a specific timeline wasn't available yet.