A median is coming to Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside near Mount Rubidoux as the city moves to improve safety and reduce car accidents in the area.
The project will construct a curbed barrier to separate traffic moving in opposite directions on the street. It will run from Redwood Drive to Scout Lane, in an effort to cut down on collisions, a city report states. Workers will also install more speed warning signs and more crosswalks at Redwood Drive.
The project goes from downtown Riverside and over the Mission Bridge that spans the Santa Ana River toward Jurupa Valley.
The Riverside City Council unanimously approved the nearly $1.5 million project Tuesday, Feb. 24. The city hired Hardy & Harper, Inc. of Lake Forest $1,540,000 to build it.
-
The Riverside City Council approved construction of a $1.5 million median on Mission Inn Avenue near Mount Rubidoux. A portion of the project area is seen Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
1 of 4
The Riverside City Council approved construction of a $1.5 million median on Mission Inn Avenue near Mount Rubidoux. A portion of the project area is seen Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The improvements are expected to reduce head-on collisions, according to the report.
The city studied five years of collisions, from July 2017 to June 2022, counting 66 collisions in that area. Most were caused by rear-ending accidents, side collisions and vehicles hitting objects. Three were fatal or caused severe injuries.
The two-way street currently has just a stripe separating the lanes that go in opposite directions, with a curve as drivers move past Mount Rubidoux. The project also includes a portion of street that goes over the Santa Ana River and under the bridge near Riverside and Jurupa Valley.
Once construction crews start, the project should take about 75 working days, City Traffic Engineer Philip Nitollama said.
In September 2022, the city applied for money from the state Highway Safety Improvement Program. In March 2023, it received a $7.8 million grant to which the city must add at least $1.2 million, a city news release states.
Residents who were out in the area Wednesday, Feb. 25, said they welcome the project.
Riverside resident Mike Sanchez, who was on his way up the mountain for a morning hike, said he hadn’t heard about the project, but has noticed traffic in the area getting worse.
“Anything that can ease traffic is good,” he said.
Rachel Gonzales, another Riverside resident, was with her dog at the nearby Carlson Bark Park at the foot of Mount Rubidoux. She said streets such as Redwood Drive and Scout Lane had been “crazy” lately.
“Hopefully it helps,” Gonzales said. “I feel like I see car accidents too often now.”
Another nearby parkgoer, April Grace, said she hoped something gets done about speed limits in the area, too.
“People speed all over in the city,” Grace added. “And keep going through red lights. It’s scary.”
Source link
