Access to the Corona (71) Expressway from the Riverside (91) Freeway in Corona will be shut down Monday evening because of construction work, and motorists were advised to find alternate routes ahead of time to avoid delays.
Both the east- and westbound 91 connectors to the northbound 71 will be closed while crews install overhead lights for the “71/91 Interchange Project,” according to the Riverside County Transportation Commission.
The westbound 91 transition to the northbound 71 will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. Monday and will remain shut down until 4 a.m. Tuesday, while the eastbound transition will be taken out of service around 10 p.m. Monday and remain inaccessible until 6 a.m. Tuesday, RCTC said.
Drivers using the southbound 71 to reach the 91 won’t be impacted.
“To reduce travel time, motorists are encouraged to … take regional detours,” RCTC stated. “Motorists traveling to destinations along the 71 in Chino, Chino Hills and Pomona from the 91 may use Interstate 15, the 57 freeway and the 60 freeway. These routes will help them avoid the 71/91 interchange and reach destinations with minimal disruption.”
The 71/91 Interchange Project began in February 2023 and has involved periodic closures along the 91 in the construction zone.
The $137 million project entails replacing the current single-lane connector from the eastbound 91 to the 71 with a two-lane connector loop, which will accommodate a larger number of vehicles.
Along with expanding the connector itself, the project further involves adding an eastbound auxiliary lane to the 91 and realigning the Green River Road on-ramp. The expressway, too, is being realigned to create space for the new connector.
The project is expected to conclude sometime next year.
More than one-third of the project funding — $58.1 million — is being provided by the California Road Repair & Accountability Act of 2017, which hiked gasoline taxes to pay for infrastructure and other projects. The county’s Measure A revenue, which is generated by a half-cent sales tax, is also covering a share of the expense, while federal and other sources make up the difference.
Updates on the project are available at rctc.org/7191closures and www.rctc.org/71-91interchange.