Monitoring Of Motorists On 15 Freeway In Temecula Continues

TEMECULA, CA — Efforts to improve traffic flow on Interstate 15 in Temecula to the Interstate 215 split in Murrieta will cause some inconvenience for motorists this week.

Lane and connector ramp closures are planned for Thursday night to continue work on the $33.5 million I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project.

The closures are scheduled between 10 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, impacting connector ramps at Rancho California and Winchester roads, as well as Temecula Parkway. One or more northbound lanes will also be shut down between the San Diego County line and Temecula, according to the Riverside County Transportation Commission.

In February, the RCTC announced data collection had begun for the Smart Freeway Pilot Project. The project's aim is to improve traffic on northbound I-15 from the San Diego/Riverside County Line in Temecula to the I-15/I-215 Interchange in Murrieta.

Sensors and "smart" technology are being used to continuously monitor traffic conditions in real time on this 8-mile stretch of freeway. In other words, motorists are being tracked. Analysis of freeway onramp meters at Temecula Parkway, Rancho California Road, and Winchester Road is also ongoing.

The information gathered will serve as a baseline for evaluating freeway performance over a two-year span, according to RCTC.

The metrics being tracked include:

Results from the pilot will help determine how ramp meters can function as a coordinated system by allowing more or fewer vehicles to enter the freeway at any given time, potentially reducing overall traffic congestion, according to the RCTC.

The project is expected to improve overall traffic flow and reduce rear-end collisions by maintaining steady travel speeds within the specific I-15 corridor, without the need for further freeway expansion.

If successful, the "first-of-its-kind project for California" could be implemented in other parts of Riverside County and beyond, according to the RCTC.

Along with the RCTC, Caltrans, the city of Temecula and the Western Riverside County Council of Governments are involved in the project. Additional information is available here.