New interchange partially opens

By gedward on July 19, 2006 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The first significant portion of the soon-to-be rebuilt 60/91/215 interchange in downtown Riverside opened this week, bringing some long-awaited relief for locals and commuters alike, many of which have come to despise the antiquated interchange.

Eastbound connector opens
The Press-Enterprise

2006 - Westbound flyover
(under construction)
Flash: View photo overlay

The new eastbound connector, though still somewhat temporary in nature, should allow for smoother transitioning from eastbound Highway 91 to eastbound Highway 60/southbound I-215. Reconfiguring a portion of the existing eastbound 91 adjacent to the new connector will come next, eventually allowing for the full implementation of the new transition.

When fully completed in late 2007, the interchange will also sport two new freeway-to-freeway connector ramps, auxiliary lanes and a wider main line allowing for future carpool/lane additions.

Also included in the overall $320 million project are major improvements on the 60/215 portion between downtown Riverside and Moreno Valley, with new overcrossings, improved access to UC Riverside, carpool lane extensions and an eastbound truck-only lane.

Though partially delayed due to initial funding obstacles and rising costs, the downtown interchange project was one of the key elements of a half-cent sales tax/transportation improvement package (Measure A) that Riverside County voters overwhelmingly approved (79%) in 1988 and extended an additional 30-years (69%) in 2002.

No doubt, residents old and new alike will be glad to finally see the end is nearing for 'malfunction junction.'

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