CalTrans To Close Part Of Interstate 10 Near Palm Springs

Caltrans plans Interstate 10 lane closures between state Route 111 and Ramsey Street overnight, beginning at 8 p.m. and continuing through 5 a.m. Wednesday for a striping project, a spokesman for the agency said.

The work will be carried out at various locations with alternate lane closures. On and off-ramps will also be alternately closed, but not two ramps in a row, the spokesman said.

The Caltrans spokesman advised motorists to use alternate routes and alternate exit ramps to avoid the closures and delays.

Construction along I-10 was suspended over the Presidents Day weekend, a week after a massive jam of vehicles backed up westbound traffic between Palm Springs and Banning.

On Feb. 12, a repaving project that closed some westbound lanes needlessly had congested traffic for miles, prompting the state transportation agency to apologize to the public the next day.

“The department is investigating the events that led up to the incident and again extends our sincerest apologies to all who were involved, especially the motorists who were forced to endure the lengthy backup,” the agency stated.

Caltrans blamed the problem partly on a delays at a concrete facility.

“Unfortunately, the various slabs targeted for replacement had been removed and prepared for the material before the breakdown at the batch plant occurred,” according to Caltrans.

Drivers stuck in traffic that day wondered what was happening when they saw no one working.

Riverside County Supervisor told News Channel Three’s Philippe Djegal that along with Supervisor John Benoit, he is working with Southern California Edison to allow drivers to use the company’s service roads that run along the interstate, when traffic accidents and construction projects clog lanes.

The county is aware of how bad traffic can get in the Banning pass, according to Ashley, and he said that plans are in development to build more frontage roads in the area, which would allow the California Highway Patrol to direct cars off the interstate in emergency situations.

“Unfortunately, its going to take a while to implement it totally, but we’re going to be doing the very best we can,” said Ashley.

Lane and ramp closures are also scheduled next week farther west in Calimesa, Colton and Fontana, according to Caltrans.

Caltrans’ District 8 posts updates for the public on Twitter, the spokesman said.