A new bridge and a new undercrossing are scheduled to open on Monday, but first, a massive freeway onramp closure must occur, officials say.Updated Wed, Apr 23, 2025 at 11:21 am PTTEMECULA, CA — A major 55-hour closure of the northbound I-15 onramps from Winchester Road is the next piece in solving a massive traffic pinch point through Temecula and MurrietaThe closure isn't quite Carmageddon, but for many drivers in Southwest Riverside County, it's close. Drivers who wish to use the northbound on-ramps to the I-1...
A new bridge and a new undercrossing are scheduled to open on Monday, but first, a massive freeway onramp closure must occur, officials say.
Updated Wed, Apr 23, 2025 at 11:21 am PT
TEMECULA, CA — A major 55-hour closure of the northbound I-15 onramps from Winchester Road is the next piece in solving a massive traffic pinch point through Temecula and Murrieta
The closure isn't quite Carmageddon, but for many drivers in Southwest Riverside County, it's close. Drivers who wish to use the northbound on-ramps to the I-15 Freeway at Winchester Road will need to follow detour signs from Friday at 11 p.m. and end by 6 a.m. Monday.
The full I-15/French Valley Parkway Improvement project, ongoing in the area for years, was initially estimated to cost $139 million. The last phase of completion was opened in April of 2014.
This weekend's project keeps Phase 2 on schedule, with the full closure of both I-15 northbound onramps, from westbound and eastbound Winchester Road.
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During the closures, detour signs will be posted, directing motorists to the nearest northbound I-15 onramps, which are either Rancho California Road to the south or Murrieta Hot Springs Road to the north. Both options experience significant traffic, especially during rush hours.
The I-15/French Valley Parkway improvement project aims to alleviate bottleneck traffic on northbound I-15 between Winchester Road and the I-15/I-215 interchange.
"Currently, the flows from the on-ramps would mix in with 15 and folks would have to 'crisscross' to get to either the 15 or 215," Avlin Odviar, Temecula's Project Manager for Phase 2, said in a video news release. "With the new bridge and new undercrossing, those flows will now be separated and traffic will flow much faster and much safer."
Please plan accordingly, and remember to reduce your speed in the work zone. Detours will be available.
Road closures this weekend include:
Winchester Road straight and loop on-ramps
15 Fwy to Murrieta Hot Springs Road off-ramp in Murrieta
Closure of the 215 Freeway’s Murrieta Hot Springs Road off-ramp in Murrieta
Closure of the 215 Freeway connector in Murrieta
Alternating lane closures
Phase 1 construction was completed in 2014. The work helped lessen dangerous traffic backups at the southbound I-15 exit for Winchester Road and added an offramp alternative for southbound Murrieta drivers at French Valley Parkway.
Phase 3 improvements will alleviate additional congestion at the Winchester Road interchange, adding more alternative connections to and from the freeway. It will also include new cross-town connections for vehicles, transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Phase 4's future work will provide "ultimate traffic relief" at the French Valley Parkway interchange, including the northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramps, as well as the southbound collector/distributor system along I-15.