As reconstruction work continues at the intersection connecting State Route 71 and Freeway 91 in the Inland Empire, a section of Freeway 71 will be completely closed over the weekend, the Riverside County Transportation Commission announced.
The closure will affect the southbound lanes of the 71 Freeway at Butterfield Ranch Road/Euclid Avenue in Chino Hills from 10 p.m. Friday, August 16, to 5 a.m. Monday, August 19.
In addition, the southbound lanes of the 71 and the eastbound and westbound lanes of the 91 motorway junctions will be closed.
“This closure is necessary to allow crews to safely pave and mark the final section of the realigned 71-lane southbound lanes to shift traffic into the new lanes,” the Riverside County Transportation Commission said.
Detours
Vehicles traveling south on State Route 71 are detoured to the Butterfield Ranch Road/Euclid Avenue exit in Chino Hills.
Drivers traveling along Euclid Avenue to the 60 Freeway can use either southbound I-15 or the southbound lanes of the 57 Freeway.
Authorities expected delays on the 71 Freeway over the weekend. Motorists are asked to avoid southbound SR-71 and instead use southbound SR-57 or southbound I-15 to reach SR-91 and other destinations.
Why the closure?
Riverside officials said the closure is part of the 71/91 Interchange in Corona and is intended to improve safety and traffic flow while assisting the movement of wildlife through the area.
Construction work is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
