Inland Empire freeway widening project completed

(AP) – Transportation officials and motorists are celebrating the end of a massive project to widen a freeway through inland Southern California.

Drivers coped with traffic jams and detours for seven years as crews worked to widen Interstate 215 through San Bernardino by adding a carpool and a new lane in each direction on a 7.5-mile stretch of road.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports the $647 million project was funded through a mix of a local sales tax measure, state bond money and federal stimulus funds.

The project was built in four phases and included the construction of new freeway bridges, connectors and ramps.