MENIFEE – With the arrival of electronic signs along Newport Road recently, the City of Menifee began alerting motorists about one of the city’s most anticipated infrastructure projects, the Newport Road left turn pocket extension to Haun Road.  Construction began on the project on Sunday, Nov. 4.

The $158,000 project will extend the left turn pocket lane on Newport Road for cars turning southbound onto Haun Road by removing the existing concrete median, installing new pavement, and re-striping the traffic lanes. Currently, motorists waiting to turn onto Haun Road back up along Newport Road, creating traffic congestion for those continuing westbound on Newport Road.  The extended turn lane pocket will help to alleviate this congestion.

"Improving Menifee’s infrastructure and reducing traffic Advertisement

[ Pala Mesa Resort ] congestion is one of our primary goals," said City Manager Bill Rawlings. "While we have various transportation projects under design, fixing the turn lane on Newport Road is important because it will improve traffic flow on one of our busiest traffic arteries."

Construction will occur at night, between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., to minimize disruption to traffic flow. Motorists will notice electronic billboards announcing the project and are reminded to reduce their speed and use extra caution while traveling through the construction zone. 

The project contractor is STI, Inc. It is expected to take up to four weeks with completion slated for the end of November.