The chaos has begun. The SR-60 Pavement Rehabilitation Project is underway and will continue through Fall of 2021. The 60 freeway shut down at about 10 p.m. last Friday night and remained closed until late Sunday night. The closure was to occur until early Monday morning, however thanks to the hard work of the crews they were able to finish early. Caltrans sent out a tweet stating, “Great news Inland Empire motorists. The 60 Swarm is over early this weekend. All lanes on EB 60 are now open. Thank you for your cooperation.”
The work crews closed the entire eastbound side of the 60 from Interstate 15 in Ontario for about 13 miles, until the 60/91/215 interchange in Riverside. This closure is the first of many as this portion of the freeway will continue to close on weekends until September 23rd.
As we have come to realize the 60 freeway, an east-west corridor, is a major commute and goods movement route through a large urbanized area of Southern California. It also serves the commercial center for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including Ontario International Airport. This would help to explain the heavy drive that commuters experience every morning, evening, and even on weekends. This route is part of the National Network for Federal Surface Transportation Assistant Act (STAA) for oversized trucks.
Caltrans states on their website, “The State Route 60 (SR-60) Pavement Rehabilitation project will replace the existing Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) mainline and shoulder in multiple locations, rehabilitate asphalt concrete pavement on the exit and entrance ramps and upgrade ADA ramps in San Bernardino County from Euclid Ave to the 60/91/215 Interchange in Riverside County.”
Right now the pavements that exist on the 60 freeway is poor and damaged. It has a high percentage of third-stage cracks and corner cracks in the two outside lanes, including damaged pavement in various locations in other lanes of traffic. According to Caltrans, “The continued deterioration of pavement severely decreases the ride quality of existing roadway and potentially adversely impact goods movement and the motoring public.”
A majority of us have driven on this freeway and can attest to how the ride quality has gone down. From the continued cracks and the uneven drive we experience, it isn't the most pleasant one. The deteriorating pavements contributing to slower driving to avoid damages to our vehicles causing more traffic than there already is on that route.
Caltrans says, “This project will rehabilitate the existing pavement with a roadway structure that will provide an extended service life and require less maintenance expenditures, minimize maintenance worker exposure and improve ride quality.”
The first overnight closure of the westbound side of the 60 is scheduled to happen on Friday, September 27th. The time of the closure will also begin at 10 p.m. that night and will remain closed throughout the weekend until Monday morning. These weekend closures will last until November 18th. Drivers will still be able to use the on- and off-ramps of the 60 freeway while the closures are in effect.
What is all of this costing?
According to a Caltrans fact sheet, the total costs of the project amounts to $134.5 million with $16.9 million in SB-1 funding.
How do drivers avoid the swarm?
Caltrans is recommending that motorists use I-10, state Route 91, I-15 and I-215 during the shutdowns. However, surface streets in Jurupa Valley and Riverside will also be available for east-west travel. So be sure to plan your travels and commutes accordingly. You can always find the most recent updates on the project via the Caltrans District 8 Twitter page: @Caltrans8 and their website caltrans8.info.
Work will be suspended for Veterans Day weekend, as well as Labor Day weekend though. Closures for 2020 have not been announced.