Bumpy road gets bumpier, awaits paving project

A stretch of road that was muddy but fairly smooth before now has several deep ruts. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

The dirt intersection of Briggs Road and Matthews Road, already in rough shape because of previous rains and traffic, really took a beating from the last storms and plans are underway to pave the road soon, a city official said.

Jonathan Smith, director of Public Works for the City of Menifee, said city officials are aware of the worsening problem. A reporter on Wednesday drove the stretch of road in a pick-up truck and bounced through several deepening ruts alongside a large body of rain water remaining. Other vehicles also struggled to negotiate the road, which is used often by motorists traveling to Heritage High School and Highway 74.

According to Smith, three parties are involved with that corridor, which is adjacent to a housing development in the planning stages and abandoned railroad tracks. Those are the City of Menifee, CalAtlantic Homes and the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates railroad and rail transit areas. Smith said the City is simply waiting for the CPUC to "give us the green light" to pave the road.