91 Freeway at Adams Street Interchange Project Moves Closer to Reality After Years of Planning

The long-awaited State Route 91 Adams Street interchange reconfiguration project is nearing final approval from Caltrans after more than two decades of planning, officials announced at Thursday's Mobility Infrastructure Committee meeting.

The $129 million project addresses severe congestion caused by three intersections spaced within just 420 feet, creating significant traffic backups and queuing issues. The eastbound on and off ramp intersection sits only 80 feet from the Indiana and Adams intersection, contributing to the traffic problems.

"We're trying to reduce congestion and traffic and improve traffic circulation within the streets, especially Adams Street," said Thuy Nguyen with the Public Works Department during the committee presentation.

The approved design, known as the "hook ramp alternative," eliminates the eastbound on and off ramps at Adams Street and relocates them to Indiana Avenue, similar to the configuration at the Van Buren interchange. The project includes widening off ramps in both directions from two lanes to three lanes.

The westbound on ramp will feature three lanes that taper down to one lane before joining State Route 91. The new eastbound hook ramps will consist of two lanes that also taper to one lane before merging with the freeway.

To accommodate increased traffic on Indiana Avenue, the street will be widened from two lanes to three lanes in each direction between Adams Street and the new eastbound ramp intersection. The existing Adams Street bridge requires replacement because it doesn't meet current height clearance standards.

The new bridge will include two through lanes, two left turn lanes, a bike lane, and a standard six-foot-wide sidewalk. Currently, no bike lane exists on the bridge.

The project requires both full and partial property acquisitions along the corridor, as well as temporary construction easements. Yellow-coded areas on project maps indicate full acquisitions, while purple areas show partial acquisitions needed for construction.

City officials began the current phase of environmental review in 2022 and 2023, conducting numerous technical studies. The draft environmental document was completed in January 2024 and posted for public review.

"We also held quarterly meetings with stakeholders where CBU representatives and the auto center dealership representatives normally attend," Nguyen said.

The environmental analysis covered topics ranging from agriculture to wildfire impacts. The final environmental document was completed in August 2024 and submitted to Caltrans for review, going through several iterations to address comments before reaching headquarters and the Federal Highway Administration.

"We're very close to getting the document approved, fingers crossed any day now," Nguyen told committee members.

Auto dealerships in the area have expressed support for the project. "They've been very cooperative," Nguyen said. "We met with Subaru, we met with a few other folks but it's all been positive so far. They're looking forward to this project."

The tentative project schedule calls for Caltrans approval by fall 2025, followed by final design and construction document preparation through fall 2027. Right-of-way acquisition will occur during or after the design phase, with construction beginning in fall 2028. The two-year construction process is expected to be completed by 2030.

"It's going to be interesting once all the construction starts what traffic's going to look like in that area," said Committee Member Jim Perry.

Project funding includes $2.1 million contributed locally by the city and $935,000 in federal funds for the current phase. The city has requested $4.1 million from the Western Riverside Council of Governments and is working with the organization to secure additional funding for the design phase.

The total estimated project cost stands at $129 million for the complete reconfiguration.

Committee members expressed satisfaction with the project's progress after years of discussion. "In the 18 years I've been here, we've been talking about this project for 18 years," said Committee Chair Chuck Conder, noting that while the project is still five years away from completion, it represents significant progress.

Perry shared a personal experience highlighting the current traffic problems: "I think I just had to exit there today because of an accident on the freeway and it took me a long time to get onto the side road."

The Committee voted to receive and file the project update. The reconfiguration represents one of the most significant infrastructure improvements planned for the Adams Street corridor, addressing traffic issues that have persisted for decades.

The project's approval process has involved extensive coordination between city staff, Caltrans, federal agencies, and community stakeholders. Once construction begins, the interchange will join other major freeway improvements designed to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion throughout the region.