$49M Ortega Highway Expansion Begins

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A $49 million project to expand the Ortega (74) Highway between Lake Elsinore and the Orange County line will get underway Monday, and motorists were advised to expect delays as the work progresses.

The State Route 74 Widening Project will entail a multi-stage effort by Watsonville-based Granite Construction Inc. to make a series of modifications intended to enhance safety along the two-lane corridor, according to Caltrans.

The work will begin with excavation in preparation for widening existing west- and eastbound lanes to 12 feet, as well as expanding shoulders on both sides to four feet, Caltrans said.

Crews additionally will be installing in-ground rumble strips for the highway centerline and shoulders, officials said.

The upgrades will be focused on the area spanning Monte Vista Street, just west of Lake Elsinore, to the OC line, a roughly 10-mile stretch.

Caltrans has not announced lane closures or flagging operations yet, but those announcements will be made in advance.

Officials said work is planned on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on weekends between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.