Clinton Keith Road Extension Project

Location

Between I-215 and SR-79

City or County Responsible for Project

County of Riverside

Category

Bridge: Efficient and Sustainable Bridge Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects

Author

John Marcinek

Organization

County of Riverside

Address

3525 14th Street, Riverside, CA 92501

Phone

951-955-3727

Project Description

The County of Riverside in cooperation with the City of Murrieta, RCTC and WRCOG initiated the Clinton Keith Road extension project from I-215 to SR-79, to address the need for an east-west traffic corridor in the vicinity of north Murrieta, and unincorporated French Valley. The project relieves congestion and improves safety along Los Alamos Rd as well as Scott Rd and provides commuters with improved access to the I-215 freeway. The project extends Clinton Keith Rd by approximately 3.4 miles which includes sections of widening, upgrading dirt roads and constructing a new 6 lane urban arterial road through the Murrieta hills. Due to funding constraints, the project is being constructed in phases, and to date 3 of 4 phases have been completed. Phase 1 was completed in 2011 and widened Clinton Keith Rd to 6 lanes between I-215 and Whitewood Rd. Phase 2 is the segment between Whitewood Rd and Leon Rd and provides a 4 lane facility that allows traffic access from I-215 to SR-79, via Leon Rd and Max Gillis Blvd. As construction of Phase 2 proceeded, the County was able to secure funding for Phase 4 which included the remaining 2 traffic lanes to complete Clinton Keith Rd to the ultimate cross section of 6 lanes. Proceeding with construction of both Phase 2 and Phase 4 at the same time allowed the contractor more flexibility to complete both projects quickly and efficiently. Phases 2 and 4 were completed in the summer of 2018. Phase 2 and 4 of the new road have been constructed through an environmentally sensitive wildlife corridor which required innovative solutions. A major feature of the project is a wildlife overcrossing which is a 142’ long, 110’ wide double arch structure that allows wildlife to move freely and to cross over the newly constructed road. Specialized fencing has been installed to prevent wildlife from entering on to the road, and to direct wildlife to the overcrossing, or to go under the Warm Springs Creek Bridge. Drainage facilities that cross under the road were constructed with skylights and special ledges to encourage wildlife to cross under the road. Solar power lighting was introduced for the Warm Springs Creek Bridge and to illuminate the road under the wildlife overcrossing. Also to minimize construction impacts, goats were used to clear vegetation. Construction was not without challenges. Along with dealing with the damage caused by the heavy rains in early 2017, construction crews encountered granite in the hills that slowed progress and required blasting. Eight areas were blasted and required close coordination with the City of Murrieta, emergency services, public utilities, school districts and the local community. The Clinton Keith Road extension project introduces a major arterial road that will eventually carry 35,000 vehicles per day, but it is also a project that provides bike lanes, public transit facilities and a pedestrian friendly environment that all integrate with the natural environment.