Interstates 15, 215 Temporarily Closing In Murrieta, Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — The second phase of a construction project designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve motorist safety near the Interstate 15/Interstate 215 junction is getting set to begin after being postponed due to last month's Fairview fire, but overnight shutdowns of both freeways are again planned ahead of the work, according to the city of Temecula.

The freeway closures are planned from 10 p.m. Oct. 23 until 5:30 a.m. Oct. 24. The full closure affects all southbound I-15 and I-215 lanes at Murrieta Hot Springs Road and all northbound I-15 lanes at Winchester Road, the city reported.

Detours will be available on Jefferson Avenue, Ynez Road, and Jackson Avenue, according to the city.

The closures are needed to prepare for phase 2 construction of the I-15 French Valley Parkway Interchange Improvement project. During the upcoming shutdown, Southern California Edison will relocate its overhead power lines to accommodate a new freeway bridge being built across the I-15 /I-215 junction. The work includes moving electrical wires that span over the freeway to taller poles, according to the city.

Phase 2 of the I-15 French Valley Parkway Interchange Improvement includes constructing two to three northbound I-15 lanes from Winchester Road to the I-15/I-215 split. These new lanes — called a "collector/distributor system" — are designed to separate freeway through-traffic from vehicles that are exiting or entering the freeway. The new lanes will be separated from through-traffic by a concrete barrier. Phase 2 construction is expected to cost $138 million and is forecast to wrap up in two years.

The project's third phase calls for constructing the balance of French Valley Parkway from Jefferson Avenue to Ynez Road, the full interchange connection to I-15, and building a collector/distributor system along southbound I-15.

Phase 1 of the interchange project was completed and included widening the southbound Winchester Road offramp, constructing the southbound French Valley Parkway offramp, and constructing the westbound portion of French Valley Parkway between the new offramp and Jefferson Avenue.