Caltrans has two projects on Highway 74 near and in Hemet in September. A $51.6 million corridor improvement project will repave and rehabilitate 49 lane miles, install Traffic Management Systems (TMS), upgrade curb ramps, sidewalks and driveways to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, enhance bike lane signage and striping, and upgrade 29 bus pads within the project parameters, weather permitting.

The project was awarded to Griffith Company of Brea. Crews will be working in and near Hemet on Highway 74 from Winchester Road to Fairview Avenue with a project length of 11.2 miles beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. Hours of operation are from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., with occasional weekend work. Construction activity is expected to take about 24 to 26 months.

Highway 74 will remain open for the duration of the project. Flagging operations will be primarily during the nighttime. Radar detection signs will be in place. Expect delays up to 15 minutes.

Intermittent, short-term closures for equipment relocation and construction staging purposes will occur. No long-term closures are planned.

Caltrans will begin work on a $3.4 million emergency project to remove and replace culverts, perform rock scaling and install safety measures at culverts in both directions on Highway 74 in Hemet, weather permitting.

The project was awarded to Beador Construction Company Inc., of California. Crews will be working on Highway 74 from just east of View Lane to just east of Strawberry Creek Bridge. The project length is 6.4 miles.

A 55-hour emergency closure will take place on Highway 74 at Blackburn Road at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15 to 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17.

A temporary access road will be in place for through traffic. One-way traffic control will be in place. Expect delays up to 15 minutes. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

Crews will be constructing and replacing box culverts at Blackburn Road to increase water and debris flow capabilities, and better address and decrease potential flooding during inclement weather.

Alternate routes are Highway 79 north to I-10 east to Highway 243 south; and Highway 79 east of Blackburn Road, then head east to Highway 243 to the I-10.

The California Highway Patrol will be on scene to assist with traffic control and safety. Speed limits will be reduced by 10 mph throughout the construction zone.