Cajalco Road construction could affect Menifee commuters

Editor’s note: The following is a press release from Eastern Municipal Water District about construction on Cajalco Road that could impact Menifee motorists heading west from the 215 Freeway:

PERRIS -- Eastern Municipal Water District will begin work in early January 2025 on a new sewer line on Cajalco Road in the unincorporated community of Mead Valley and is urging motorists to use extra caution when driving in the area.

The Cajalco Corridor Sewer Project will consist of 11,500 feet of sewer between Carpinus Drive and Carroll Street. The project is necessary to accommodate future growth and is funded in part by the American Rescue Plan Act, courtesy of the County of Riverside.

The first phase of work will take place between Clark Street and Carroll Street. Working hours for this phase will be between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., to minimize traffic impacts during the peak morning and evening commute times. Alternate lane alignments will be used to accommodate traffic flows while ensuring work crews have a safety buffer to perform work.

Once the first phase of work is finished, construction crews will move to Carpinus Drive and begin working their way east toward Clark Street.

Some portions of the project will involve night work, during which time traffic will be reduced to one direction at a time using traffic flaggers. Later phases of the project will utilize daytime detour routes through residential neighborhoods for eastbound traffic.

Commercial trucks will not be permitted on Cajalco Road during night work or when daytime detours are in effect. EMWD has contracted with the California Highway Patrol to provide education and enforcement of commercial truck traffic during these times.

Electronic message boards on Cajalco Road will keep motorists informed of any changes to working hours, locations, and traffic flow.

The project is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2026. For more information, please visit www.emwd.org/cajalco.