Construction begins on Jefferson St. interchange
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at 10 a.m. Friday to kick off a major construction project that’s expected to improve mobility and ease traffic issues in and around Indio.
Plans for a modernized Jefferson street freeway interchange have been in the works for a long time, and it’s going to take a long time for it to become a reality; two years of construction.
“With the phenomenal growth in north Indio, reconstructing this interchange has been a significant regional need for decades,” said Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit. “This project will improve traffic flow at one of our valley’s most important arteries and the gateway to Indio, Bermuda Dunes, La Quinta and the eastern Coachella Valley.”
The Jefferson Street/I-10 interchange was originally built in 1958 as part of the construction of Interstate 10 through Riverside County, officials said in a release. The freeway overcross was aligned at its present location due to design constraints of that time associated with the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way.
In 1972, the westbound Indio Boulevard on-ramp overcross was constructed.
The current configuration can be confusing and constricting to drivers. Those heading east on the freeway have to cross two bridges, wait at stop signs and cross traffic to get on the freeway.
Officials said the project will replace the existing Jefferson Street bridge and northbound Indio Boulevard overcrossing with a single bridge designed for traffic entering and exiting the freeway from both directions.
The new eight-lane bridge includes two turning pockets in the middle, shoulders wide enough to accommodate bicycles and a sidewalk on the northbound side of Jefferson Street.
Officials said the bridge will also incorporate desert oasis aesthetic features and landscaping to provide a signature entrance to Indio.
The total cost of the project will be $71.4 million. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors awarded the $42.3 million construction contract to Riverside Construction Company, Inc. in February.
The bid came in nearly $13 million below the engineer’s estimate, meaning pretty substantial savings to local governments and taxpayers, officials said in the release.
Agencies will be working together to minimize the impact to drivers and the community during the road work. Drivers will start seeing detours by late spring or early summer of 2015.
By 2036, the Riverside County Transportation Department expects 53,000 vehicles per day at this location.
Officials said the Riverside County Department of Transportation is the lead agency for the project and is working in partnership with the city of Indio, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the California Department of Transportation.
Project information, commuter alerts and construction footage
