Public Meetings Scheduled For Cajalco Road Widening Project

The Riverside County Transportation Department will hold two public meetings this week about its proposal to widen Cajalco Road between Corona and Perris.

The meetings are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday at Lake Mathews Elementary School, 12252 Blackburn Road in Riverside, and on Thursday at Tomas Rivera Middle School, 21675 Martin St. in Perris, according to the transportation department.

The meetings will offer an opportunity for the public to view and provide input on the plan and on issues to be addressed in the department's Environmental Impact Report.

The county is proposing to widen Cajalco Road from two to four lanes between Harvill Avenue to the east and Temescal Canyon Road to the west, and from four to six lanes near Interstate 215.

The proposed 16-mile project would provide an improved connection between the 15 and 215 freeways, improve east-west mobility and improve safety along the corridor, the transportation department said.

Other proposed improvements include adding traffic signals, bus turnouts, additional turn lanes and drainage improvements,

The cost is expected to be more than $200 million and construction would take about five years, depending on funding. --City News Service; Toni McAllister contributed to this report.