The State Route 60 Freeway (SR-60) is undergoing the Update Pavement Rehabilitation Project, in which the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is working to replace Pipeline Avenue, Monte Vista Avenue and Benson Avenue. The cost of the entire project totals around $130 million and is directed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission.
The interjection of the two projects on the SR-60 is known as the “60 Swarm” and began on July 26. The SR-60 eastbound and westbound will continue to close off a lane for a total of 15 weekends until Sept. 23.
(Lauren Scheer | The Poly Post)
Westbound:
Between Sept. 28-Nov. 18 there will be a full closure on the westbound SR-60 from Interstate 91(I-91) and Interstate 215 (I-215) in Riverside at 10 p.m. on Fridays to 5 a.m. on Mondays. Lanes will open on Veteran’s Day only.
John Standiford, deputy executive director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, explained to the Press Enterprise in an interview last August, “To set everything in place, crews plan to shut down the entire westbound side of the 60 for two nights.”
The lanes will be closed seven days a week for six months in Moreno Valley and Beaumont.
The westbound SR-60 had a multiple vehicle collision that blocked the carpool lanes at Benson Avenue on Aug. 19, according to Caltrans District 8. Since then, all lanes have opened, but drivers should still be cautious because accidents during the SR-60 construction will cause more traffic.
Samantha Delgado, a second-year liberal studies student, gets nervous when she hears about the construction and closure on the SR-60. Delgado normally takes the SR-60 west to Interstate 71 (I-71) north when going to campus.
“I start classes at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” said Delgado. “I may possibly go up to the Interstate 10 west and exit Kellogg Drive.”
Delgado plans to leave her house extra early just to beat traffic.
Eastbound:
The SR-60 eastbound will have a 12-mile closure for pavement rehabilitation from the Interstate 15 Freeway (I-15) where the I-60, I-91 and I-215 interchange.
This project will replace pavement slabs along the SR-60 from Euclid Avenue in Ontario to provide access points due to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Construction also includes repaving the on- and off-ramps within the project limits, according to Caltrans.
Through Sept. 23 in Riverside from 10 p.m. on Fridays to 5 a.m. on Mondays, the entire SR-60 will be closed between I-15 to the I-60, I-90 and I-215.
The Road and Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 is funding $16.7 million in repairs. Lane closures and construction should be completed in fall 2021.
For more information about construction updates, visit the Caltrans website at https://dot.ca.gov/.
