Expanded Winchester Road Off-Ramp Opens This Week

City of Temecula officials announced that Phase One of the French Valley Parkway Interchange will be open to traffic on April 24.

“The public safety benefits and traffic relief associated with a brand new off-ramp, and the expanded Winchester Road off-ramp, is a welcomed improvement for Temecula residents and those traveling southbound on Interstate15,” stated Mayor Edwards.

Completed features of the French Valley Parkway Interchange (Phase One) include:

• A widened southbound I-15 off-ramp at Winchester Road, with a new auxiliary exit lane.
• A new southbound I-15 off-ramp, which will allow access to Jefferson Avenue at Cherry Street at the future French Valley Parkway Interchange.

As Temecula’s population quadrupled over the last two decades, improving congestion at freeway interchanges along Interstate 15 through Temecula has remained a top funding priority for the City. 

“Even though this project is in Caltrans’ jurisdiction, there is limited State and Federal funding available so Temecula worked closely with our regional partners, the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the Western Riverside Council of Governments to secure local and regional funds to cover the $28 Million cost of Phase One,” stated Mayor Edwards. 

“I’m very proud of our City for making this happen,” Edwards added.

Funding sources included the City of Temecula funds, Local Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) funding administered by the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), and Regional TUMF funding administered by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). 

Council Member Ron Roberts represents the City’s interests currently serving as a Commissioner for RCTC, and is a past Commission Chairman.

 “It’s important for Temecula Council Members to be very involved in regional decisions regarding large transportation and infrastructure projects such as the French Valley Parkway interchange; we can offer valuable insight on what projects are critical to fund,” stated Council Member Roberts. 

Council Member Chuck Washington is also currently representing Temecula on the WRCOG Executive Committee and has served as the Committee Chairman.

Looking ahead, the designs for the remaining phases of the French Valley Parkway Interchange are well underway. The City is processing the design review through Caltrans, which should be finalized in mid to late 2015.

Also, $48 Million has now been secured to construct the final expansion of the Interstate-15/State Route 79 South Interchange near Temecula Parkway; and the City hopes to be in a position to advertise for construction bids late 2014 or early 2015. 

“These are all very exciting steps we are taking to improve traffic flow through Temecula,” stated Mayor Edwards.

The City of Temecula is committed to improving circulation infrastructure projects that support the traffic safety and needs of our community.