Temescal Canyon Road Widening Project Latest: Approval Expected

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County supervisors are slated Tuesday to vote to set aside $1.9 million to cover the cost of procuring easements for the long-awaited Temescal Canyon Road Widening Project. The Economic Development Agency has secured most of the agreements that are needed with area property owners for expansion of the two-lane corridor that parallels Interstate 15 between Corona and Lake Elsinore.

EDA officials said negotiations are continuing with a few property owners, but 33 have conceded to the county's proposals for permanent right-of- way easements under eminent domain.

The Board of Supervisors last November certified environmental studies tied to the project, which is tentatively slated to begin this fall.

According to county officials, Temescal Canyon will be widened from two to four lanes in two separate locations. The first is a half-mile segment between Dos Lagos Drive and Leroy Road; the second is a half-mile segment between Dawson Canyon Road and a community known as The Retreat.

"The addition of one travel lane in each direction along Temescal Canyon will provide congestion relief for the residents of the Temescal Valley and commuters traveling through the I-15 corridor," according to the EDA.

Complaints about congestion on Temescal Canyon and surrounding roads have been aired before the board in years past.

The EDA has described traffic backups along the artery as "severe" on some days of the week.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock