Neighbors to the east abuzz with construction

Canyon Lakers who do business or shop in Menifee, or pass through to get to the 215 Freeway, continue to see signs of construction everywhere they look. In the past couple of weeks, the medians on Railroad Canyon Rd., between the church and Goetz Rd., have seen lots of action as landscapers for the Audie Murphy Ranch development have been putting in irrigation lines, trees and other landscaping elements.

A peek into the most recent section of the Audie Murphy property to undergo development, just east of Canyon Lake Community Church, shows two paved roads and construction of model homes.

Across from the Menifee Countryside Marketplace on Haun Rd., construction is well underway on the 100,000-sq.-foot Town Center Marketplace. According to Jeff Wyman, economic development director for the City of Menifee, the property is fully leased, with the following businesses expected to open by spring 2016:

PetSmart, Party City, Aldi grocery store, Kirkland’s, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Buffalo Wild Wings, The Habit burger grill, Jimmy John’s, Sonic, Sprint, El Pollo Loco, European Wax Center, Nikki’s Nails, SportClips haircuts, Pieology Pizzeria, Yogurtland, Rubio’s Mexican Grill, Waba Grill, Active Ride Shop, Ono Hawaiian BBQ and The Joint Chiropractic.

Across the wash from the Town Center Marketplace is another commercial development known as the Menifee Town Center. An arched entrance to the Town Center can be seen on Newport Rd. A sign at that complex announces that Krikorian Premiere Theatres will be opening soon. Plans call for a 12-screen theater, 16-lane bowling alley and a sports bar. City officials hope to see that open some time in 2016, though construction does not appear to have begun.

The Menifee Countryside Marketplace also will get some new businesses. The Dog Haus will open at the location formerly occupied by The Beer Hunter. Others are Luxottica Eyewear, Home Goods and Forever 21, the latter two by summer 2016.

Most important to commuters who access I-215 at Newport Rd. is the progress on the interchange construction. The $48.4 million project will provide easier freeway access with a new cloverleaf on- and off-ramp design. Newport Rd. will be widened to four lanes in each direction on the overpass to improve traffic flow. The overall project is scheduled for completion by winter 2016.

According to documents at cityofmenifee.us, the southbound off-ramp is open. The northbound on-ramp loop is scheduled to open this spring. The eastbound Newport Rd. bridge demolition is scheduled to take place in April, at which time all traffic will be switched to the westbound lanes. The new eastbound bridge span is scheduled to open this summer.




Weather

CANYON LAKE WEATHER

Facebook