Plans for Briggs-Matthews intersection are in process

This is the view drivers have as they turn left from Matthews Road to head over the railroad tracks and south on Briggs Road. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Paving dirt roads is an ongoing process in Menifee, with certain areas seeming to demand more attention than others. Such is the case with the intersection of Briggs Road and Matthews Road -- a short section of dirt road between two paved roads on a well-traveled route between the Heritage Lake community and Heritage High School.

Those traveling north on Briggs Road past the Heritage Lake housing development soon come upon an old section of railroad tracks, where the pavement ends. Motorists must then slow down to negotiate a right turn on the bumpy dirt surface onto Matthews Road for less than 50 yards until the pavement begins again just before a left turn on the next section of Briggs Road.

That route is worth it to motorists driving students farther north to Heritage High, but the Briggs-Matthews connection isn't the greatest on auto suspensions and wet conditions can turn the area into a muddy mess.

According to Jonathan Smith, director of Public Works for the City of Menifee, that section of road will be improved, but the project is still in process and involves two other parties.

Smith said the intersection is the responsibility of developer CalAtlantic, which has built many homes in the Heritage Lake area. CalAtlantic is processing an agreement with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority that will permit them to improve the railroad crossing and intersection, he said.

No timetable for those road improvements has been announced.

Motorists heading south on Briggs Road from Heritage High School turn right onto this stretch of dirt road before turning left again to continue onto Briggs.