Caltrans project on Highway 371 creates significant delays
Caltrans worker Marcus Austin (left) with Supervisor Jody Mueller (right). On Tuesday, Feb. 4, Austin discovered a vehicle Scott Firth drove down a 200-foot embankment off of Highway 74 and summoned emergency assistance. Firth was airlifted to a regional hospital.
Photo courtesy Caltrans
Caltrans is widening shoulders to 4-foot widths on Highway 371 in a 5-mile stretch from Cary Road to Kirby Road. During the project, only one-way traffic is permitted, causing, on average, 20-minute delays in each direction.
Repair work, including an overlay of new pavement, takes place during construction from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Highway 371 through the Anza Valley is a heavily traveled commuter route between Temecula and San Diego and the desert communities of the Coachella Valley.
The project, which started at the end of June, is projected to run through late 2015 to early 2016, according to Caltrans Public Information Officer Joy Schneider.
