Scott Road bridge crews give update at halfway point

This aerial view looking northeast shows the width of the new Scott Road bridge being built and the wider sweep of the southbound off-ramp and northbound on-ramp. Photo: City of Menifee

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The long-awaited Scott Road interchange project is now half complete, and construction officials briefed local media recently on phases completed so far and the busy schedule that lies ahead before completion next summer.

So far, crews have built the new six-lane bridge adjacent to the current bridge. The length of the new bridge is 338 feet -- 150 feet longer than the old bridge, to allow room for looping ramps underneath. To meet Caltrans standards, the new bridge is about 4 feet higher than the old one, or 19 feet above the freeway.

More than 700,000 pounds of steel support the bridge. In addition, 1,500 cubic yards of concrete were poured over a 12-hour period for the stem and soffit base, followed by 900 cubic yards of concrete poured over an eight-hour period to form the deck. There will be two through lanes each way, plus two dedicated turn and ramp access lanes.

Workers pour concrete into the base of the new bridge, which includes 750,000 pounds of steel. Photo: City of Menifee

Another 900 cubic feet of concrete was applied to the top of the bridge for the deck surface. Photo: City of Menifee

Retaining walls have been built and concrete poured for on- and off-ramps that will sweep wider than the old ramps and will be much longer. The total increase in length of those ramps will be 1.75 miles, said Lucas Rathe, resident engineer for DHS Consulting, the construction manager. The northbound and southbound on-ramps will be four lanes wide, including an auxiliary lane, and will be metered.

"The ramps were extended so it’s safer to get on the freeway," Rathe said. "You will now have more time to get up to speed and safely get on the freeway."

Westbound traffic over the bridge will use a looping on-ramp to head south onto the freeway. The off-ramp for northbound freeway traffic exiting at Scott Road will be split. Off-ramp traffic heading east on Scott Road will stay to the right on the current ramp. Traffic planning to head west on Scott Road will stay to the left and use a looping ramp under the bridge. That traffic will no longer have to wait at the signal to turn left.

Graphic: City of Menifee

The first part of the project to open to traffic will be the new northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp, scheduled for opening on or before Sept. 23. The next opening -- and the one that will most impact traffic during its preparation -- will be what city officials call the Scott Shuffle, when traffic across the freeway will shuffle from the old bridge alignment onto the new bridge.

In order to complete the final changes to facilitate the shuffle, Scott Road will be closed from Antelope Road to Haun Road, including freeway ramps. The freeway will remain open under the bridge, but these closures will be in effect for 55 hours.

"There’s a significant grade differential between Scott Road now and what the future alignment of the road will be," Rathe said in explaining the reason for the closure. "With the higher bridge, the biggest difference is at the northbound on-ramp, were we have to go up about 5 and a half to 6 feet. There will be a temporary ramp, we'll build the area up, then during the shutdown we'll bring in dirt and pour concrete to tie the new road alignment to the ramp. There will also be some grade adjustments at Antelope. We have to bring the surface up 2-3 feet."

Exact dates for the Scott Shuffle haven't been determined, but it is estimated to be in late October. A two-week notice will be given when the dates are set.

Photo from the deck of the new bridge shows the increase in width over the existing bridge. Photo: Doug Spoon

Although that will obviously be an inconvenience for motorists, it also means that the new, wider bridge will be open well before the entire project is complete. The final months of the project will include demolition of the old bridge, construction of the looping ramps, re-striping, intersection improvements and landscaping.

"The person passing by at 55 miles an hour doesn't notice all the things that are taking place," Rathe said. "The old bridge has to be demolished before we can build the looping ramps."

Also part of the shift is completion of the roadway from the new bridge to Antelope Road and Haun Road. Because the new bridge was built to the north, it doesn't align with Scott Road. For instance, eastbound traffic coming off the bridge will travel on a new portion of Scott Road that won't merge into the current road for several hundred feet past Antelope Road.

Along with the old bridge, the portions of Scott Road between the bridge and Antelope and between the bridge and Haun Road will be removed.

This view of the new southbound off-ramp shows the difference in width from the old one. Photo: Doug Spoon

A common sight for westbound Scott Road: Everyone wanting to turn left and no through traffic. That problem will go away. Photo: Doug Spoon

This is the view motorists will have as they turn from Scott Road onto the new northbound freeway on-ramp. Photo: Doug Spoon

This photo shows the difference in height between the new bridge and the old one. Photo: Doug Spoon

Workers place river rock one by one to anchor the slope on the new ramps, helping to prevent erosion. Photo: Doug Spoon