New Truck Lanes On 60 Freeway Through Badlands To Open Friday

BADLANDS, CA — A multimillion-dollar project designed to make state Route 60 safer for motorists who travel through the Badlands will debut this week. The Riverside County Transportation Commission announced that new truck lanes will open on the narrow, winding highway Friday afternoon.

Dubbed the RCTC's Route 60 Truck Lanes Project, the construction work added an eastbound truck-climbing lane and a westbound truck-descending lane for 4.5 miles between Gilman Springs Road and 1.4 miles west of Jack Rabbit Trail, between Moreno Valley and Beaumont. Built next to the outer shoulders in both directions of state Route 60, the new truck lanes separate slower-moving big-rigs from passenger vehicle lanes.

In addition, the project widened the inner and outer shoulders along the route and excavated 2.1 million cubic yards of dirt from the steep hillsides to add another 30 feet next to the outer shoulders. The wider shoulders and open space provide pullout areas for motorists and emergency responders.

The project also flattened the curving roadway to improve sight distance for drivers.

A newly added 20-foot by 20-foot by 200-foot wildlife crossing and extended culverts will allow coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, deer, and other animals to travel beneath the highway, according to the RCTC.

Construction of the $138 million highway investment began in June 2019 with Caltrans providing design and construction oversight. The project is opening on time and within budget, according to the RCTC.

"This project has fully transformed the Route 60 corridor from a narrow, winding, roadway to one that is wide open, safe, and a great new way to drive between the Coachella Valley and western Riverside County," said RCTC Chair and Riverside County 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. "RCTC’s investment in Route 60 has provided a stronger way to connect our residents."

Funding for the project was provided by a combination of federal, state, and local sources and employed approximately 1,400 workers, according to the RCTC.

Closeout work on the project is expected to continue during the weeks ahead with nighttime lane closures likely.

For more information, visit rctc.org/60trucklanes for updates.