Opinion: Fixing the Roads Beneath Your Feet and the Bridges and Crossings That Connect Us

All around Riverside new businesses are opening, parks are being renovated, and construction for more homes, retail, and office space is underway. Those are the visible signs of progress, but there is another indicator of growth that often gets overlooked: STREET PAVING!

The road beneath our tires and the sidewalks under our feet are literally the foundation of our city. While we celebrate growth, we can't lose sight of the essential work local government must do to keep a city moving. In 2025, our Public Works Department paved approximately 50 miles of road and filled over 1,700 potholes.

Driving on uneven streets or hitting a pothole the wrong way is irritating, unsafe, and can even cost you hundreds of dollars in car repairs. So we're doing our job: fixing existing potholes and preventing new ones from developing. Earlier this month, the City Council approved a $1.9M contract to complete preventative maintenance on 11.6 miles of roadway across all seven wards. Taking this preventative approach is a potential savings of over $14M for the city and for you, the taxpayer, when compared to the cost of waiting until the road has significantly deteriorated to fix it.

And those streets that require more extensive repairs? We're fixing those too. City Council approved a $5.6 million contract in January for resurfacing and sidewalk repairs, including work on major roads like Chicago Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive.

A paving crew lays fresh asphalt on a Riverside neighborhood street. The city approved a $5.6 million contract in January for resurfacing and sidewalk repairs across the city. (Courtesy of the Office of Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson)

We regularly update our interactive map so that residents can track these projects and see when their neighborhood is scheduled to get some fresh asphalt. While we work diligently to stay ahead of repairs, we rely on our community to identify areas in need of our attention. If you notice a pothole, a sidewalk, or a street that needs fixing, please report it by completing an online form, by calling 3-1-1 or by downloading our 311 mobile app.

A New Welcoming to our City

Strengthening our transportation network goes beyond pavement. We are investing in our bridges too.

The Mission Boulevard Bridge has served as the gateway to Riverside since 1958. The aging structure is slated for replacement after decades of seismic deficiency concerns. (Courtesy of the Office of Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson)

Since 1958, the Mission Boulevard Bridge has served as the gateway to Riverside, welcoming residents and visitors into our city. After more than six decades of service, the bridge is long overdue for a replacement to meet the needs of Riverside today.

First flagged for seismic deficiencies in 1997, the bridge has been on Caltrans' replacement list for years. However, like many major infrastructure projects, it faced delays due to rising construction costs, the pandemic, and permitting challenges. Today, the total project cost is estimated to be $38.5 million more than originally projected in 2015.

After years of delays, the project is finally moving forward.

Thanks to grants from the Federal Highway Administration and funding through California's Proposition 1B program, 91% of the total project cost will be covered by state and federal dollars. By securing these grants, we are saving Riverside residents millions of local dollars while delivering a long overdue replacement. The remaining costs of the project will be split between the City of Riverside and the City of Jurupa Valley.

The new bridge is being designed to minimize disruption to current commuters during construction. It will meet modern flood and seismic standards and include enhanced safety features, such as a reinforced concrete barrier separating traffic.

One of the most exciting improvements is a 12-foot-wide, multi-use trail along the side of the bridge, safely separated from vehicle traffic. This addition will provide cyclists and pedestrians with a safe and accessible connection between our communities.

The new Mission Boulevard Bridge is more than a bridge; it advances our River District vision, reconnecting Riverside to the Santa Ana River and shaping the next chapter of our city.

While the Mission Boulevard Bridge improves how we enter and connect across our region, there is another bottleneck many residents experience, one that can derail a morning commute in a matter of minutes.

A crew works on sidewalk repairs as part of the city's broader infrastructure investment across all seven wards. (Courtesy of the Office of Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson)

We've probably all been there. You are on your way to work or trying to get your kids to school on time when the train bells begin to ring along Third Street. And just like that, you know you are not moving anytime soon, and your day is already starting behind schedule.

Every day, commuters are collectively delayed for more than three hours on Third Street due to nearly 100 trains passing through the corridor. And without a long-term solution, those delays will only grow.

But after years of waiting at the tracks, Riverside is finally building the solution with construction set to begin in June 2026.

Now, after securing $22 million from the California State Transportation Agency and $18 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration, we are ready to move from planning to construction.

A rendering of the planned Third Street grade separation project, which will eliminate the at-grade railroad crossing that currently delays commuters more than three hours daily. (Courtesy of the Office of Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson)

This project will eliminate the at-grade crossing, reduce congestion, improve emergency response times, and make Third Street safer, more reliable, and quicker for everyone who depends on it.

By investing in both vision and fundamentals, we are building a city that is stronger, safer, and ready for whatever comes next.