Nighttime lane closures are set to accompany road work this week on Interstate 10 between Beaumont and the Coachella Valley, and Caltrans urged drivers to plan for delays.
Over the past 13 months, crews have been gradually making improvements to nearly 20 miles of freeway between Beaumont and state Route 111 north of Palm Springs as part of the I-10 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, also called the I-10 Tune-Up.
Caltrans advised drivers traveling on the Interstate 10 along the project route to brace for lane closures from Sunday through Thursday, between 7 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Crews will set up at various points along the freeway.
In both directions, lane closures are expected between Pennsylvania Avenue in Beaumont and state Route 111 interchange for paving work.
The eastbound connecter on-ramp to state Route 111 was also expected to close periodically for road work. Additionally, the eastbound Haugen-Lehmann Way on-ramp will remain closed through May.
No weekday lane closures are planned for this week, although crews are set to work during the daytime hours at various points along the thoroughfare.
Caltrans recently deployed a new roughly six-mile temporary lane on the westbound Interstate 10 between Banning and Cabazon. The crossover lane was initially set up in the eastbound direction.
Like its eastbound counterpart, the westbound thoroughfare between Eighth Street in Banning and Main Street in Cabazon will deliver motorists to the opposing side of the roadway via a separated single lane with no shoulder space.
Caltrans said the mechanism is used in order to avoid daytime lane closures. Motorists were urged to slow down while using the crossover ramp for safety.
The I-10 Tune-Up includes replacing guardrails, repaving outside lanes, replacing slabs in inside lanes and upgrading various on- and off-ramps to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The $210 million project is primarily funded by the state gas tax, and the remainder through federal funds as well as some funding from the state, according to Caltrans.
Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022.
Caltrans has set up a website for project-specific updates, i10tuneup.com.