Gridlock Averted: Caltrans Cancels Weekend Closure Of 91 Freeway In RivCo. Here's Why

CORONA, CA — Motorists traveling on the eastbound 91 Freeway in Corona will avoid another 55-hour weekend closure after crews completed culvert replacement work ahead of schedule, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Caltrans had planned a second weekend closure from Friday through Monday as part of a $6 million project to replace existing culverts and improve wildlife crossing connections between Orange County and Corona, Caltrans announced Tuesday.

The most recent scheduled 55-hour closure was from Friday, Nov. 6, at 10 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 9, at 5 a.m. The Nov. 13 closure would have affected eastbound 91 Freeway lanes between State Route 241 and Green River Road.

The work was conducted just west of Green River Road and frequently triggered significant traffic delays, with cars piled up for more than a miles on the 91 Freeway ahead of the detour.

The culvert work required crews to demolish and excavate existing structures before installing replacements. Construction work also included temporary ramp, lane and shoulder closures, as well as occasional traffic holds and alternating lane closures to accommodate work involving traffic channelizers.

The project involved replacing 82-foot-long segments of existing culverts. Construction began in fall 2025 and was originally expected to continue through fall 2027.

The planned work also called for full closures of the northbound State Route 241 connector to eastbound 91 express lanes, the northbound State Route 55 connector to eastbound 91 express lanes, the eastbound Gypsum Canyon Road onramp and the eastbound Green River Road offramp.