Corona’s busy McKinley Street will be closing this weekend — as will some 91 Freeway ramps — as construction continues on the McKinley Street bridge project.
The closures are expected to start Friday, Dec. 13, at 9 p.m., and will last until Monday, Dec. 16, at 5 a.m.
The work is part of a plan to build a 291-foot bridge with a blue arch that will take McKinley over the railroad tracks and the Arlington Channel with the intention of reducing traffic wait times.
Crews closed streets and ramps in August to work on the tracks, but this weekend’s closures are for crews to complete pavement work.
Construction on the $120 million McKinley Street Grade Separation Project began in 2022 and is expected to be finished by early 2025.
The two streets that will be closed are:
- McKinley Street, from the 91 Freeway south to Magnolia Avenue
- Sampson Avenue, at its intersection with McKinley Street
The two off-ramps that will be closed are:
- The eastbound 91 Freeway off-ramp at McKinley Street
- The westbound 91 Freeway’s McKinley Street south loop off-ramp
While access to northbound and southbound McKinley will be closed, drivers can use westbound Sampson Avenue thanks to a new ramp adjacent to the 91 Freeway’s eastbound off-ramp, a city of Corona news release states.
During construction, the owners of some businesses have said it had been difficult to attract customers to their stores. This weekend’s closures come during the Christmas shopping season.
Businesses in surrounding retail plazas will be open during construction, but officials recommend that drivers use the suggested detours.
Drivers approaching from the west and trying to use McKinley Street south of the 91 should continue eastbound on the freeway, take the 15 Freeway southbound interchange and exit at Magnolia Avenue. Then they can turn left onto Magnolia Avenue and head straight.
To reach McKinley Street north of the 91 Freeway, drivers coming from the west can take the 91 Freeway eastbound, use the 15 Freeway southbound interchange and exit at Magnolia Avenue. They can then turn left onto Magnolia Avenue and left onto Promenade Avenue to reach the area.
This is likely to be the last major closure for the project, city spokesperson Cindy Solis said.
Updates on the project can be found here.
