Final Phase of Newport Road Paving Project This Week

Traffic will be reduced to one open lane in each direction on Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 14-16, as construction crews complete the final phase of paving in the Newport Road widening project.

In a news release, city officials urge drivers to plan accordingly for traffic delays, suggesting the following alternate routes:

An alternate route suggestion for eastbound Newport Road is to travel south on Antelope Road to La Piedra, go east to Menifee Road, then travel north on Menifee Road to Newport Road. For westbound travelers, go south on Menifee Road to La Piedra and go west, then travel north on Antelope Road to Newport Road.

“We are in the homestretch of this project and the major traffic disruptions will be behind us next week,” said Public Works Director Jonathan Smith. “Thank you to Menifee residents, business owners and commuters for your patience during construction as we work to improve traffic circulation in our community.”

After this coming week, paving on Newport Road will be complete with the opening of an extra lane each way on the stretch of Newport Road between Menifee Road and Antelope Road. The remaining work includes adding road signs, lane striping and traffic signal poles, and is expected to be completed in February.

Median landscaping on this portion of Newport Road is a separate project which will happen in late spring.

Menifee received a $125,000 grant from CalRecyle, the state's recycling agency, to help pay for use of paving technology that reuses existing asphalt material and then adds rubber from repurposed tires to create a stronger - and quieter - roadway surface.