Project will widen, resurface Newport west of freeway

This portion of Newport Road, looking east toward Haun Road, will be expanded as part of a new road project. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

As crews complete the reconstruction of the Newport Road bridge over Interstate 215, preparations for the next Newport Road project will begin this week.

The project will take place in two phases, with preparations for both beginning on Monday.

Phase 1 is a pavement management project that will resurface the pavement on Newport Road between Bradley Road and Murrieta Road. It is funded in part by a Federal Highway Administration grant. During this phase, which may take only about one week, a portion of that stretch of Newport Road will be reduced to one lane each direction.

Phase 2 will widen Newport Road between Haun and Bradley Roads, adding a lane each direction so Newport will be a six-lane thoroughfare from Menifee Road to Bradley Road. This is a Capital Improvement Project using a portion of developer funds.

In the first part of this project, a lane on the south side of the street will be closed near the site of Menifee Town Center. In January, after draining work is complete in that area, one lane in each direction will be closed for the widening project. The entire project is expected to be completed nest spring.

Newport Road east of the freeway was widened to six lanes in 2014.