With an increase in I-5 traffic due to the nearby airport and construction on the Empire Center, road improvements are necessary.  Overall, the improvements are expected to relieve congestion, improve traffic flow, and improve the access to Bob Hope Airport and shopping centers.

The project will make the following improvements:

• The construction of an HOV lane between Magnolia Blvd. and Buena Vista St.
• The construction of an interchange at I-5 and Empire Ave.
• The elevation of the railroad at Buena Vista St. and San Fernando Blvd. to eliminate the street-level crossing.
• The realignment and elevation of of the railroad adjacent to Empire Ave.
• The reconstruction of the Burbank Blvd. overcrossing to widen the structure and realign the on- and off- ramps.
• The improvement of the San Fernando Blvd./Victory place and Lincoln St. intersection.

The $355 million dollar project is expected to be completed in 2017.  For continued updates, go to the California Department of Transportation District 7 website.

High-Light Electric began work on the Van Buren Boulevard intersection in the summer of 2012 in order to accommodate a traffic increase and allow for future growth.  The modifications include:

1. A new Eastbound to Northbound entrance ramp.
2. The realignment and widening of the boulevard
3. Replacement of the bridges over the railroad and highway
4. Minor realignment of Southbound I-215
5. The addition of traffic signals
6. Auxiliary lanes between Van Buren Boulevard and Cactus Avenue
7. Acceleration/deceleration lanes south of the boulevard
8. Various aesthetic changes

The modifications are set to be completed next month so keep an eye out for the changes!  To find out more information and see updates, go to the Riverside County Transportation Department website.

High-Light Electric began work on the Iowa Avenue paving project in October 2012 with an expected completion date of December 6, 2013.  Now, the new Iowa Avenue Overpass has been paved, and a lot of the local streets in Highgrove have been patched after the street surfaces were torn up for water line installation.  The pavement improvements will help open up a much-needed flow of traffic between Riverside and San Bernardino.

HLE’s work on this project was mentioned in Highgrove Happenings, a local paper in Riverside, California.  Go to Highgrove Happening’s December edition to read the full article. 

Below is a slider with some photos of the project.  Keep checking back for more updates and pictures!

HLE is currently working on the Perris Valley Line Extension Project, which is a 24-mile extension of the Metrolink 91 Line, which provides service from Riverside to Los Angeles, California.  The line is currently one of the most heavily traveled and congested freeways in the region.

The new extension will operate through three cities – Riverside, Moreno Valley and Perris) and will bring commuter rail services to major employment areas.  It will eliminate thousands of vehicle trips per day on the freeways and provide a safe alternative to commuters.

The construction is expected to be completed by 2014.  Keep an eye out for more updates, and find out more information at the Riverside County Transportation Commission website.

Saturday morning, a tanker filled with 7500 gallons of gasoline crashed on the 5 and 2 freeway interchange in Los Angeles.  Damage was caused to the I-5 Freeway bridge due to the intense heat from the fire.  Several long-term closures have been made, rerouting traffic and slowing down drivers on nearby roads.

HLE is contracting with Caltrans to make the freeway drivable again.  They are working 24 hours a day to complete the repairs in the next 55 days.  Stay tuned for more updates from the project!  You can also find out more information at Southern California Public Radio’s website.

Below is a video of the fire:

HLE has completed a lot of work on this project since this was originally posted.  Flip through the slider below to see some photos of the work.

As of Friday, the connector tunnel has now been reopened, with some impressive improvements.  New concrete and metal beam guardrails were added, along with LED lights that adjust based on the time of day and anti-graffiti coating. Now, thanks to HLE and the others that played a part in this project, the bridge is better off than it was before the fire. You can read more at the website of CBS Los Angeles.

The slider above has some pictures of the final, completed project.

HLE is working for the City of Riverside to lower Streeter Avenue under a set of railroad tracks.  A bridge will be built to carry Dewey Avenue over Streeter Avenue and another will be built to carry the railroad tracks over Streeter Avenue.  Appleton and Lantana Streets will be realigned and a new street will be built to connect Streeter and Dewey Avenues.

Upon completion, the project will eliminate 3-6 minutes delay for each emergency vehicle that has to stop for a train and traffic is expected to increase from 12,800 vehicles per day to 29,000.  The project is expected to be completed by February 2015.

Visit the City of Riverside website to find out more information and updates about the project.