71/91 Interchange Project
Status: Pre-Construction
Location: Western Riverside County
Type of Project: Highways
Location: State Route 71/State Route 91 Interchange, Corona
Construction: Early 2023 to 2025
Investment: Estimated $137 million (construction)
OVERVIEW
The Riverside County Transportation Commission, in partnership with Caltrans, is reconstructing the 71/91 Interchange Project in Corona. Construction will take place from early 2023 to 2025.
The 71/91 Interchange serves as a gateway between Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino Counties and is a vital link for commuters and freight vehicles that travel along the 91 and the 71. The new non-tolled interchange is designed to improve safety, expand access to other modes of travel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance traffic flow. The project will support continued movement through this area by native wildlife such as mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes.
The project will:
- Replace the existing single-lane loop connector between eastbound 91 and northbound 71 with a new, two-lane, direct connector ramp;
- Build an eastbound 91 auxiliary lane to improve access to the new direct connector to northbound 71;
- Realign the eastbound 91 on-ramp from Green River Road to improve access to the 71/91 Interchange;
- Realign southbound 71 to create space for the new direct connector.
Caltrans approved the environmental document in June 2011, and RCTC completed final design for the project in June 2015. RCTC received the final piece of funding in December 2020 to improve this congested and operationally deficient interchange. In June 2021, RCTC awarded a construction management contract and expects to release the project for bids in early 2022. Construction will begin in early 2023, and the new interchange is expected to open in 2025.
Construction will begin in early 2023 and be completed in 2025. Construction likely would occur in stages to minimize disruption to motorists through this heavily traveled corridor.
- June 2011: RCTC receives final approval of environmental documents
- October 2013: Final design begins (project plans, specifications and cost estimates)
- June 2015: RCTC completes final design
- 2018 and 2019: RCTC seeks funding through the state SB 1 Congested Corridors Program, federal Better Utilizing Investments for Leveraging Development (BUILD) Program, and federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program
- December 2020: RCTC receives final funding for project
- June 2021: RCTC awards construction management contract
- Early 2022: Requests for construction bids anticipated
- 2022: Construction contract award anticipated
- 2023: Construction expected to begin
- 2025: New interchange anticipated to open
Environmental Documents
-
- Draft – Environmental Assessment, click here.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Finding No Significant Impact Document, click here.
- Jurisdictional Delineation for the SR-91/71 Interchange Project, click here.
News Updates
Coming Soon.
Westbound 91 full nighttime closures are expected to restart Monday, January 6, 2025. Due to the holidays, no closures will be scheduled from December 20 through January 1, 2025.
Motorists are highly encouraged to avoid the westbound 91 by using the northbound 71 to westbound 60 to southbound 57 to get around the closure.
For more information, please click here.