Caltrans Takes Heat From Lake Elsinore And Wildomar Leaders Over Ortega Highway Issues

Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries and Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) today criticized Caltrans for “continuing to ignore Riverside County’s interest in issues regarding Ortega Highway.”

The two leaders, who represent Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Lakeland Village and surrounding constituencies, have asked Caltrans officials to schedule an informational meeting in Lake Elsinore to discuss the Ortega Highway Interchange project and its impact on Riverside County drivers.

First District Supervisor Jeffries sent a letter today to Caltrans District 12 Director Ryan Chamberlain, expressing disappointment that while three informational meetings are being held on the Orange County end of Ortega Highway, none are scheduled in Riverside County. (See attached letter.)

“While the actual project may be in Orange County, it is our constituents that make up the majority of the trips over the mountain, and they deserve to be informed about the construction closures and delays they are going to have to deal with over the next two years,” Jeffries said. “This is not the first time that Caltrans District 12 has ignored Riverside County’s interests in Ortega Highway, as we had a similar problem with the first year of the Orangeman Triathlon that closed Ortega Highway without adequately consulting with Riverside agencies and communities.”

Click here for more on the Orangeman controversy.

Assemblywoman Melendez also asked that Riverside County residents receive a briefing from Caltrans. 

“Thousands of Riverside County residents drive over Ortega Highway into Orange County every day, and they have a right to be informed about the challenges they may face in their daily commutes. Caltrans needs to host an informational meeting in Lake Elsinore before the construction closures start, no excuses.”

Wildomar Councilwoman Bridgette Moore confirmed in an email to Patch that Caltrans has not reached out to her city, and she said Wildomar officials have been leaning on the agency to host a local forum on the planned construction.

Construction on the $86 million Ortega Highway interchange project at the I-5 is slated to start next month. Click here for more on the project details.

Caltrans has already held one community forum in Orange County, and on Saturday the agency will hold two more in San Juan Capistrano: from 7-8:30 a.m. at Historic Town Center Park or 9-10:30 a.m. at Cook Park.