Full Nightly Closures Continue On Ortega Highway Near Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Caltrans is continuing work on the $60 million Ortega Highway widening project in Riverside County, with nightly full closures of the roadway next week.

The work that is part of the state Route 74 Ortega Lane Widening Project will take place from Monte Vista Street, just west of Lake Elsinore, to just east of the county line. No through traffic will be allowed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Monday. The nightly closures will continue into Saturday morning, according to Caltrans.

Commuters and local residents will be directed to Lake Elsinore and will not be given access to go through to Orange County during the closure hours.

"Be advised, you will experience long waits and delays due to construction operations," according to Caltrans.

The project that is anticipated to be completed in early 2025 involves widening traffic lanes to 12 feet, widening outside shoulders to 4 feet, and adding a 2-foot-wide median and 1-foot-wide shoulder ground-in rumble strips. Widening the shoulders requires constructing retaining walls with concrete barriers, cutting rock slopes and installing fill slopes, according to Caltrans. The work is taking place from the Orange County line to Monte Vista Street near Lake Elsinore.

For up-to-date information and to sign up for commuter alerts, go to SR-74 Ortega Widening Project.