The Point: Construction to start June 10 on Route 60 in Riverside County’s Badlands
Slow for the cone zone! Work is starting June 10 on RCTC’s State Route 60 Truck Lanes Project and the public is invited to attend open houses to learn what to expect during construction.
The open houses will take place:
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Wednesday, June 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Beaumont City Hall Auditorium, 550 E. Sixth Street, Beaumont
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Wednesday, June 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Cottonwood Golf Center, 13671 Frederick St, Moreno Valley
RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans, will widen 4.5 miles of Route 60 from Gilman Springs Road to 1.4 miles west of Jack Rabbit Trail
within the “Badlands” area of unincorporated Riverside County. The project will add truck lanes in both directions and other features to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion.
From late July to December 2019, one westbound lane on Route 60 will be closed within the project limits. The lane closure is needed to provide space for construction equipment and to ensure the safety of crews and travelers through the area. RCTC will operate Freeway Service Patrols to aid stranded drivers during the six-month lane closure. Motorists are encouraged to use Interstate 10 as an alternate route. Nighttime lane closures will occur as needed throughout the 2.5-year project.
RCTC awarded a contract to Skanska USA Civil West to build the eastbound truck-climbing lane and westbound truck-descending lane and other features, including:
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Widening the existing narrow shoulders to standard widths – 11-foot interior shoulders and 12-foot exterior shoulders – and adding 18 feet of unpaved roadway beyond the 12-foot shoulders
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Flattening the roadway curves on the western end of the project to improve motorist sight distance
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Increasing the height of the median barrier by up to 10 inches
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Constructing below-ground wildlife crossings and above-ground wildlife fencing
At the open houses, no formal presentations will be held; community members will be able to talk one-on-one with project team members. Representatives from the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, the County of Riverside and the City of Beaumont will be present to provide information about safety and projects that are adjacent to the Route 60 Truck Lanes Project.
Funding for the $135 million project is provided by a combination of sources, including federal, state, and Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County.
RCTC reminds motorists to drive carefully through the construction zone, allow extra travel time and refer to posted Construction Updates and social media for details.
