Anyone who has navigated the snarled stretch of Margarita Road between Avenida Barca and Solana Way in Temecula has most likely felt the frustration of inching along at a snail’s pace.
(Flickr)
Although traffic is backed up most of the day, it is especially grueling when kids are being dropped off and picked up at Margarita Middle School and Temecula Elementary School, both located on Margarita Road.
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Parents with kids who attend area schools have had to practice patience during the morning and afternoon rush.
“It really is a hassle to get in and out of the area,” Temecula resident Shannon Murphy said. “I do my best to take alternate routes whenever possible.”
Murphy added when she takes her daughter to cheer practice, the early evening traffic is just is bad if not worse.
City officials advise the current stretch of construction will be wrapping up soon.
“Final paving will be complete on Monday, Oct. 15, barring any weather-related delays with all lanes fully open in both directions beginning Tuesday, Oct. 16,” city of Temecula spokesman Grant Yates said.
The final “striping” touches will be finished the week of Oct. 22.
Yates went on to say that the city is doing what it can to keep traffic moving during the rehab project.
“There are times when it is very difficult to get through,” he added.
City officials also said the road will not be widened.
“We are just rehabilitating the existing pavement,” Public Works Director, Greg Butler explained. “When completed, the road will look brand new.”
Butler also said the city’s Pavement Management System continually evaluates segments of roadway throughout Temecula to determine what stretches of road need work.
The cost of the current Margarita Road project is estimated at $3,476,502, according to Yates.
In the waning days of the Margarita Road project and in other construction hot spots on Ynez Road, officials are urging drivers to be patient, observe the posted speed limits and be especially watchful of school children in the crosswalks.
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Stephanie D. Schulte is a writer/photographer with SWRNN. She can be reached at stephanie.schulte@swrnn.com.
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How about the Ynez construction, that looks to be adding a divider where the second turn lane is!?! Can someone explain to me the need to take away a lane there? I don’t see any widening happening on this intersection (Ynez & Rancho Cal), so what are they doing?
There not taking a lane away. There putting up a divider to prevent left turns from the street where you exit marie calenders, embassy suites and the new apartments or condos going in up on the hill above embassy suites. Looks like they wasted money already and started over. They will waste more water and put more plants in.