Clinton Keith Extension to Winchester Still a Few Years Off

Plans are in place to extend Clinton Keith Road east of Murrieta to Winchester Road but not for at least a few years, a County official said last week.

The County is still negotiating with one property owner along the proposed route for the six-lane, approximately four-mile stretch of roadway, said Juan Perez, director of transportation for Riverside County.

"We started the acquisition process more than a year or two ago. We had about 22 pieces of property we had to acquire," Perez said in a phone interview.

Once that last piece is in place, the County can begin putting the funding together.

"In this economy, we don't see being able to put the construction funding in place right away. A piece of of it is building it, a piece of it is funding it," Perez said.

He estimates the project will cost between $30 million and $40 million, and he foresees it taking another three to five years.

The roadway--named for Adna Clinton Keith, who was the Riverside County Surveyor and Road Commissioner between 1947 and 1971--stretches from Murrieta's western to eastern boundaries.

For French Valley resident Nathan Williams, the extension of the roadway is vital. Williams lives in the Country Roads edition of Spencer's Crossing, and said about one-fourth to one-half of a mile of Clinton Keith is paved behind his home.

"When we moved into our home almost a year ago, we hoped that the extension project would begin work soon. While we are only two miles from I-215, it takes us 15 minutes to reach it. The extension will cut our commute in half and we are looking forward to its completion," Williams said.

He said he, along with others who live near him, take Los Alamos Road to Interstate 215 or Winchester Road to Interstate 15.

The City of Murrieta is wrapping up the widening of Clinton Keith Road east of Interstate 215, which City Engineer Pat Thomas said was the City's responsibility in the project. That should be completed by June 30.

"Technically, Clinton Keith Road is within the city boundary between Whitewood and Menifee Road, however, this portion of the road is included in the overall project being administered by the County," Thomas said in an email Monday.

Thomas said the City is also working with the developer of a shopping center where Clinton Keith and Winchester roads will meet. The developer, Regency Centers, will construct the portion of Clinton Keith Road between Winchester Road and French Valley Creek, which is approximately 1,200 feet west of Winchester Road, he said.

"However, this project has been delayed approximately two years based on our last discussion with the developer," Thomas said.

According to a map provided by the Riverside County Transportation Department, the roadway will run north of but parallel to parts of Los Alamos Road. The road will cross Thompson Road and connect to Benton Road.

"It's not quite a straight shot," Perez said.

See a PDF of the map in the attached gallery.