Construction on the Smart Freeway Pilot Projectin Temecula began on Jan. 6, 2025. While much of that construction has been completed, testing is now underway, Riverside County Transportation Commission officials say, and the two-year pilot is nearing launch.
Here’s what we know about where the project is now.
The estimated $33.5 million project will use sensors and ramp meters to monitor and regulate northbound traffic along an 8-mile stretch from the San Diego-Riverside county line to the 15-215 freeway split in Murrieta. The ramp meters will continuously adapt in real-time to manage traffic flow. Crews added and extended lanes to the northbound freeway on-ramps at Winchester Road, Rancho California Road and Temecula Parkway to help cars get onto the freeway more smoothly and to prevent traffic backups on local streets off the freeway.
The system monitors traffic flow and automatically adjusts the ramp meters at the three northbound on-ramps to control the number of vehicles getting on the freeway. Sensors are on the freeway at the level of vehicles’ tires and on the on-ramps at the three locations to track the volume of cars.
The pilot program is expected to last two years.
During the two-year span, the Riverside County Transportation Commission and Caltrans will be evaluating the project’s effect on traffic. They will decide if the program should be permanent and whether it should be expanded to other regions. This is the first time this technology is being used in California to improve traffic flow, said David Knudsen, deputy executive director of Riverside County Transportation Commission.
“Construction for the Smart Freeway Pilot Project was substantially completed last fall. The project recently began a 90-day baseline vehicle count data period to establish a reference point before the system is activated,” Knudsen said.
During the 90-day period, the system will measure traffic flow along the 8-mile stretch of the northbound 15 and the three Temecula on-ramps.
The two-year pilot period is expected to start in May and continue through May 2028, Knudsen said.
215 FREEWAY ROADWORK
Q: Dennis Bailey of Menifee asked about the road work being done on the 215 Freeway between Moreno Valley and Perris. He’s wondering when this work will be finished.
A: As we have previously reported, the 215 Freeway in the Perrisarea is undergoing a major pavement rehabilitation project which began in October 2024. Drivers should expect slowdowns and delays as well as ramp and lane closures until the fall, that’s when the work is expected to wrap up (weather and material availability permitting). Drivers can always check the Caltrans District 8 Facebook page for status updates.
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