Full Closures Of 15, 215 Freeways In Murrieta, Temecula Planned Again

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Motorists planning to hit Southwest Riverside County freeways during the first weekend in November might want to check their travel times.

The second phase of a construction project designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve motorist safety near the Interstate 15/Interstate 215 junction is about to begin, but overnight shutdowns of both freeways are again planned ahead of the work, according to the city of Temecula.

The next closures are scheduled between Winchester and Murrieta Hot Springs roads from 10 p.m. Nov. 6 until 5:30 a.m. Nov. 7 as follows:

• Southbound I-15 and southbound I-215 will close at Murrieta Hot Springs Road
• Northbound I-15 will close at Winchester Road

Detours around the closures will be in place on Jefferson Avenue, Jackson Avenue and Ynez Road, according to the city.

The closures are the second in recent weeks and are needed as part of phase 2 of the I-15 French Valley Parkway Interchange Improvement project, according to the city. The same stretches of the freeways closed overnight on Oct. 23.

The upcoming closures will allow Charter Communications crews to relocate the company's overhead power lines to accommodate a new freeway bridge being built at the I-15 and I-215 junction. The work involves moving electrical wires that span across the freeway to recently installed poles — similar to the work Southern California Edison did during the October closures.

Phase 2 of the I-15 French Valley Parkway Interchange Improvement project includes constructing two to three northbound I-15 lanes from Winchester Road to the I-15/I-215 split. These new lanes — called a "collector/distributor system" — are designed to separate freeway through-traffic from vehicles that are exiting or entering the freeway. The new lanes will be separated from through-traffic by a concrete barrier. Phase 2 construction is expected to cost $138 million and is forecast to wrap up in two years.

The project's third phase calls for constructing the balance of French Valley Parkway from Jefferson Avenue to Ynez Road, the full interchange connection to I-15, and building a collector/distributor system along southbound I-15.

Phase 1 of the interchange project was completed and included widening the southbound Winchester Road offramp, constructing the southbound French Valley Parkway offramp, and constructing the westbound portion of French Valley Parkway between the new offramp and Jefferson Avenue.

For more information about the I-15 French Valley Parkway Interchange project, click here.