Crime & Safety
UPDATED: Lanes Reopen on Southbound I-215 in Perris
Southbound Interstate 215 was closed between Nuevo to 4th Street for about 10 hours Tuesday due to a big rig crashing into the freeway bridge and getting stuck.
All lanes of southbound Interstate 215 in Perris have reopened, according to Caltrans.
The agency posted a Twitter message just after 6 p.m. Tuesday that the lanes had reopened after being closed for nearly 10 hours due to a big rig crashing into the freeway bridge.
The lanes were initially expected to be closed for 24 hours.
ORIGINAL POST 12:46 p.m. July 9:
A traffic collision Tuesday on Interstate 215 in Perris has forced a closure that's expected to last for 24 hours, officials are reporting.
The crash that was reported just after 7:30 a.m. on the southbound side of the freeway at Perris Boulevard involved a big rig that struck a bridge and damaged it.
One person was transported to an area hospital via ground ambulance with moderate injuries, according to a report from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.
The southbound 215 at Nuevo to 4th Street will be closed for approximately 24 hours, Cal Fire advised.
The closure will likely impact northbound traffic as well, according to radio reports from the California Highway Patrol.
Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said damage to the overpass was being inspected, but engineers will need 24 hours to completely examine the span and confirm it is structurally sound.
Meantime, the southbound side of the heavily used route, which stretches between Moreno Valley and Murrieta, is closed.
"At this time, motorists are advised to avoid southbound I-215 and plan an alternate route," Kasinga said. "State Route 74 is available from Interstate 15 in Corona and will bypass the closure."
According to the California Highway Patrol, commuters can take I-215 south to Nuevo Road, but they will be forced to detour east or west at that point.
Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
At Nuevo Road, motorists can exit west and then turn immediately south on A Street, which will take them to Fourth Street, from which they can return to the freeway or continue south on 74 to I-15, depending on which community they're trying to reach, according to the CHP.
Detour signs will be posted along the bypass.
Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A SigAlert was in effect as of 8 a.m.
—City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
