Railroad Canyon Rd interchange progressing

For the thousands of Canyon Lake commuters who travel on Interstate 15, the $41 million Railroad Canyon Interchange project can’t be completed fast enough. Already six months in the making, headaches will continue throughout the construction process, which is expected not to be completed until the end of next year.

This weekend is one of many closures that are required to complete various aspects of the project.

The I-15 southbound onramp at Railroad Canyon Road will be fully closed this weekend as construction crews continue work at the interchange. Beginning tonight at 9:00 p.m. until Monday at 4:00 a.m. the onramp will be closed for crews to pave the on-ramp and the connection of Railroad Canyon Rd. to the on-ramp, according to the Riverside County Transportation Commission, which is in partnership with Caltrans and the City of Lake Elsinore to upgrade the interchange.

The commission is advising motorists to expect delays, allow extra travel time and use the southbound I-15 Main Street onramp as a detour.

The southbound I-15 off-ramp at Railroad Canyon Rd. will also be closed nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. from tonight through Monday morning. The commission suggests using Bundy Canyon Road.

The project will eventually allow for more unfettered flow through the busy and almost-always clogged intersection. The construction project will add additional lanes to Railroad Canyon Road through the interchange and to the I-15 on-ramps and off-ramps, which will help ease traffic there.

But, a greater amount of relief will come from the relocation of the northbound on-ramp and off-ramp from Railroad Canyon Road up South Grape Street by El Pollo Loco, which will allow for the elimination of a traffic signal on Railroad Canyon Road.

Auxiliary lanes on I-15 will be constructed to help drivers enter and exit the highway and reduce the dangerous traffic back-ups that currently occur, especially during rush-hour traffic. New sidewalks and bike lanes along Railroad Canyon Road will be constructed as part of the project.

The $41 million funding for the construction phase of the interchange project was provided by a combination of sources, including state gasoline tax, other state funds and developer fees. The project is fully funded.