Murrieta to Replace Los Alamos, I-15 Bridge Using Grant Money

CORRECTION 9:45 a.m. Feb. 11: Los Alamos Road will remain open during construction of a new freeway bridge at Interstate 15, with one lane open in each direction in order to provide access over the freeway for all vehicles, Patch has learned.

"I am sure there will be the occasional nighttime closure with a detour to Cal Oaks or Murrieta Hot Springs Roads, but Los Alamos Road would be reopened to traffic the following morning," said Bob Moehling, acting city engineer and public works director, noting construction may start as soon as May or June of this year.

Patch previously reported on this post that the bridge would close during construction. We apologize for the error.

ORIGINAL POST:

The cost of replacing the Los Alamos Road bridge over Interstate 15 in Murrieta will be shared by the city, county and state.

The city initially sought to widen the bridge to accommodate four lanes of traffic; however it was discovered during plans were be drawn up for the project that it would need to be completely torn down in order to meet Caltrans’ vertical clearance requirements, according to a city staff report.

“...It would be better to replace the entire structure rather than widening the existing structure now and then having to modify it in the future,” wrote Bob Moehling, acting city engineer and public works director.

City Council on Jan. 15 approved a partnership agreement with the state in order to receive a $3.5-million transportation grant for the project.

A requirement for receiving the grant was a dollar-for-dollar match in funding, according to Moehling.

Thus, the city petitioned the Riverside County Transportation Commission to provide an additional $2.9 million dollars to fund the work.

The county commission agreed, and with the city’s $3.5 million—from Measure A and freeway development impacts funds—a total of $9.9 million among the three agencies has been set aside for the project.

Murrieta City Council voted 5-0 on Feb. 5 to approve the funding agreement.

The project has been on the city’s Capital Improvement Plan for at least the past few years.

A construction start date—or whether the project has yet gone out to bid—was unclear.

Previously, City Council voted to keep the bridge open during construction.