Preparations Begin at Several Area Construction Sites

Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

The wheels are turning slowly -- whether they be the wheels of bulldozers or administrative process -- but there finally are signs of movement at some highly anticipated construction projects in Menifee.

Although signs of work on the Interstate 215/Newport Road Interchange might not be visible until later this month, the staging area is filling up with construction vehicles and building materials. You won't see it near the freeway, however. Equipment and materials are being stored in a fenced area on the Haun Road loop, just north of Yellow Basket and the Davita Dialysis center.

This area is directly in front of the Haun Professional Center medical facility, which is accessed through a driveway on the south border of the construction area.

According to a city official, the developer has until later this month to begin actual construction on the $37 million freeway interchange project, which will include looping on-ramps and a widened freeway bridge. Details can be found in our story here on the groundbreaking, which was held on April 8 because of the availability of city and county officials.

Across the street on Haun Road, the vacant land in the "hub" of the loop and south of City Hall has been fenced off and grading will begin shortly to prepare for construction of the new headquarters of the Menifee Union School District. You can read about plans for that 45,000-square-foot facility here.

The complex will include office space, a board room, two training rooms, conference rooms and technology storage.

Just a short distance away, on the southwest corner of Haun Road and Newport Road, fencing is up and equipment is being brought in to begin construction on the Town Center Marketplace. This 12.2-acre commercial center under the direction of Rich Development Enterprises, Inc. will include an Aldi market, Kirkland's store, Sonic Drive-in, Buffalo Wild Wings and several other businesses. Artists are being sought for iconic designs for the corner structure, as described here.

Across the wash and further west of that center will be the 172-acre Menifee Town Center, which will be developed by Regent Properties and will include a movie theater complex and bowling alley, retail shops, residential units and a park. An access road and entry arch heading south from Newport Road has been built but no date has been set for further construction.

For construction updates on these projects, visit the City of Menifee website here.