Officials celebrate completion of Newport Road interchange

An aerial photo shows the completed Newport Road freeway interchange, looking to the southwest. Photo courtesy of City of Menifee

A public works project that has both teased residents with its potential and frustrated them during its construction is now complete. On Tuesday, City of Menifee officials were joined by county and regional dignitaries in celebrating the completion of the Newport Road / Interstate 215 interchange.

The $48 million project, which features six through lanes of traffic on the bridge and looping freeway on-ramps in a partial cloverleaf configuration, was completed in almost exactly two years. During that time, motorists endured lane closures and massive traffic jams as a new south portion of the bridge was constructed. Now, travel time between the east and west sides of Menifee over the bridge has been greatly reduced.

"This is an example of how Riverside County works so well to partner with our cities and regional partners to deliver needed infrastructure," Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley told a large crowd assembled at the northeast corner of Countryside Marketplace, where a ceremonial ribbon cutting was held Tuesday afternoon.

"Today, it's appropriate we celebrate a major accomplishment that will serve the residents of Riverside County for decades to come."

No one is saying that this project is the solution to Menifee's traffic problems. Expansion of the Scott Road bridge and construction of the Holland Road overpass are badly needed. Officials announced Tuesday that the next project to begin would be the Scott Road improvement project, with a tentative start date later this year.

As always, funding involving several entities is a factor in both upcoming projects. Menifee 24/7 is working on a story on the status of both the Scott Road and Holland Road projects. But on this day, the focus was on the completion of a plan that has been years in the making and gives motorists from Hemet to Lake Elsinore a much improved travel route.

"This interchange is the first major capital improvement project completed since the city's incorporation in 2008," said Jonathan Smith, city engineer. "The southern span of the bridge was built in seven months and was able to be opened by the Thanksgiving holiday. This was a huge effort by all.

"This is a project we're all proud of, and it has established a level of quality one can expect from the City of Menifee in the future."

Mayor Neil Winter spoke of the significance of this project to the City of Menifee and the entire region.

"This is allowing the gateway of Newport Road to serve so many people," he said. "That's thousands of people who drive by every single day. Today is a day to take a great deal of pride that this project is completed.

"Now we are going to turn our attention to Scott Road. That project will greatly improve the southern entrance to Menifee, ushering in new businesses and residents."

Thanks were given to Juan Perez, who coordinated the project for Riverside County; Ames Construction, Inc.; DHS Consulting, Inc.; and city staff members. The interchange is expected to accommodate 62,000 vehicles per day by the year 2030.

The project features concrete acorns molded into the bridge at the base of the light posts, visible to motorists passing under the bridge. An acorn was chosen to help brand the project because it represents a young city developing into something that officials envision one day will be symbolized by the massive nature of a great oak tree. The acorn is also appropriate because it was the No. 1 food staple for the Luiseno Indians, who once occupied the area.

City, county and regional officials pose during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Newport Road freeway interchange. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon