March 5, 2010
|
After almost two years of delays, construction to finish “new” Newport Rd. is set to begin Monday, March 8, according to County Construction Engineer Mike Call.
At its February 9 meeting, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the contract for R.J. Noble Company of Orange to finish the realigned Newport Rd. pending a final document detailing the contractor’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). That document was provided last week.
Construction on the first phase, which includes finishing the paving, drainage facilities, modifications to a traffic signal at Berea Rd. and related work, is expected to be finished within six weeks of the start date, according to Call. If all goes as scheduled, the road should open to traffic at that time. New Newport Rd. was 80 percent complete at the time the project was shut down in June 2008.
Residents may recall plans for the Audie Murphy Ranch, a 2,100-home Brookfield Homes development just east of Canyon Lake, required redesigning the road as part of the subdivision. The final connection with Railroad Canyon Rd. was never made after work stopped on the development.
After negotiating a settlement with the developers’ bonding company and obtaining additional funds from WRCOG TUMF, the Transportation Department concluded there was enough money to finish the six-lane Newport Rd. between Murrieta and Goetz, and also to fully widen Goetz Rd. to four lanes, including a bridge over Salt Creek between Normandy Rd. (old Newport) and Railroad Canyon Rd. The Goetz Rd. design plans and environmental permits are being finalized and will be put out to bid this year as the second phase of the overall project, according to Riverside County Transportation Director Juan Perez.