More Than $25 Million to be Spent on Road Projects Throughout Riverside County

More than $25 million will be spent on upgrades and modifications intended to improve traffic flow on Riverside County freeways and expand programs encouraging youths to walk to school, it was announced Friday.

According to Caltrans, the California Transportation Commission allocated the funds as part of an $814 million package covering 135 infrastructure projects throughout the state.

"Each of these projects is an opportunity to improve safety, access and mobility for all travelers in California -- whether you choose to travel via car, bike or transit," Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said.

The highest sum dedicated to improvements in Riverside County totaled just over $22 million, earmarked for the installation of 128 transportation management system monitors to track traffic conditions on Interstate 15, from a quarter-mile north of the San Diego County line to the Riverside (91) Freeway.

Caltrans officials said another $2.93 million will be invested in new field weather monitors and software for better real-time traffic information distribution.

The Riverside County Department of Public Health also received $500,000 for implementation of a comprehensive "Safe Routes to School" program in the Eastside community of Riverside, as well as along the city's University Corridor.

Officials said the goal is to create a safer walking environment for school kids, mainly by training more chaperones and making neighborhoods more pedestrian friendly.

— By City News Service. Image via Shutterstock.