Feedback Wanted for Design Options to Improve I-10 Highland Springs Interchange in Banning, Beaumont

Residents, business operators, motorists, and surrounding community members who travel near the Interstate 10 Highland Springs Interchange in Beaumont and Banning are invited to attend a public information meeting on Monday, February 27 to learn about proposed improvements to this heavily traveled area.

RCTC, in partnership with Caltrans and the cities of Banning and Beaumont, have started preliminary engineering and environmental studies to look at ways to enhance traffic flow and safety. The interchange has some of the highest traffic volumes in Riverside County during peak morning and afternoon hours. It also serves as the main connection to large housing developments as well as retail, commercial, medical, and employment centers.

The meeting will be held in an open house style format with no formal presentation, although attendees are encouraged to talk to team members and ask questions about the project. Participants can learn about and give feedback on the proposed designs, which will modify the lanes at the Highland Springs underpass and add merging lanes to make it easier to reach homes and other destinations.

Two main design options will be studied – one that would change the existing on-ramps to hook-style ramps and the other that would convert the ramps to a diverging diamond interchange. This second option would allow drivers to travel on Highland Springs Avenue under I-10 by crossing to the opposite side of the street, and then returning to the right side of the street once through the interchange. This option would enable drivers to enter or exit I-10 or continue on Highland Springs Avenue without crossing opposing traffic. Watch the video below to learn more.

Meeting attendees are encouraged to talk to members of the project team about the designs and provide feedback with a comment card, by email at highlandsprings@rctc.org, or by U.S. mail at Riverside County Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 12008, Riverside, CA 92502-2208. Public comments are an important part of the project development process. Comments will be accepted through March 27.

The engineering and environmental studies are expected to be completed in 2025. Once funding and environmental approvals are secured, final design of the interchange could begin as early as 2026, and construction could follow in 2027.

To register for project updates, please visit the project webpage and register through the Contact Us section.