Traffic Alternative Between Murrieta, Temecula Might Get An Update

MURRIETA, CA — After residents expressed safety concerns about an intersection along a major thoroughfare that connects Murrieta and Temecula, officials have taken notice.

On Aug. 21, the Murrieta Traffic Commission will consider whether it should recommend that the city install an all-way stop at the Jackson Avenue and Magellan Street intersection. The intersection is just south of Murrieta Hot Springs Road, on the east side of Interstate 215, in Murrieta.

On one side of the Jackson Avenue intersection sits a driveway for the large shopping center that includes Sam's Club and Trader Joe's. On the opposite side of the driveway across Jackson is Magellan Street, which enters and exits the Jackson Crossing residential community.

There are stop signs on Magellan and the shopping center driveway, but Jackson traffic at the intersection has no stop signs or traffic lights.

For motorists moving between Murrieta and Temecula, Jackson Avenue is often used as an alternative to Interstates 15 and 215. Ynez Road in Temecula turns into Jackson Avenue in Murrieta.

In 2014 — when Jackson first connected to Ynez — residents from the Jackson Crossing neighborhood approached the city of Murrieta with their traffic concerns. Increased traffic and high vehicle speeds were among the complaints, but so was sight distance, according to city documents. Residents said they couldn't see the traffic on Jackson.

The community members wanted an all-way stop or a traffic signal installed at the intersection.

According to the city, it monitored and evaluated the intersection but eventually decided the stops at Magellan and the shopping center driveway were sufficient.

The city also met with the Jackson Crossing Homeowners Association to discuss landscaping that "was overgrown in the sight distance area," according to the city documents. Subsequently, the HOA removed shrubs and low vegetation and trimmed trees.

In February 2024, the city received additional requests to reevaluate the intersection. New analysis was conducted by the city, which found that a four-way stop was still not warranted.

However, due to vegetation overgrowth that the city says "is not being consistently maintained/cleared by the HOA within the sightline," city staff is now recommending installing an all-way stop at the intersection, with advance warning signs, flashing beacons and associated striping.

The proposed improvements are expected to cost $10,000.

The 6 p.m. Aug. 21 Murrieta Traffic Commission meeting is open to the public and takes place at City Hall, 1 Town Square.