Those driving through Temecula now have a fifth lane to use on a busy stretch of the northbound 15 Freeway.
The 1.5-mile lane comes in addition to the four existing lanes and runs from the Temecula Parkway on-ramp north to the Rancho California Road off-ramp.
The $4.4 million lane is part of Temecula’s I-15 Congestion Relief project, a plan to improve heavily congested areas on the northbound 15.
Known as an auxiliary lane, it connects an on-ramp to the next off-ramp and aims to make getting on and off the 15 easier, Temecula officials said in a Facebook post.
“The I-15 is a major lifeline for residents and commuters across Southern California – connecting cities, major job hubs, cultural centers and recreational areas,” states a news release from the Riverside County Transportation Commission, which approved $3.5 million in developer fees for the project.
Construction started in March and was celebrated by officials at an early October ribbon-cutting ceremony before it opened late that month.
The improvement was needed because the Temecula Valley has seen an influx of residents and visitors, city officials said at the ceremony.
The lane is in a location used to access several Temecula-area attractions. The Pechanga Resort Casino is near the Temecula Parkway exit and Rancho California Road is often used to get to Old Town Temecula’s shops, eateries and bars.
The extra lane is the beginning of plans to add three more auxiliary lanes to the 15 Freeway in Temecula.
Caltrans plans to add such lanes on the 15, both northbound and southbound, from the Rancho California Road on- and off-ramps to the Winchester Road on- and off-ramps.
A final auxiliary lane would be constructed southbound from the Rancho California Road on-ramp to the Temecula Parkway off-ramp, a Temecula news release states.
Construction of the three lanes is expected to start in 2025.
For updates on the project, click here.
