From left: Gina Gonzalez, economic development director; Jason Simpson, city manager; U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert; Bob Magee, mayor; and Shannon Buckley, assistant city manager. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lake Elsinore.)
The City of Lake Elsinore was awarded a $25 million federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Grant to help fund improvements to the Interstate 15/State Route 74 interchange.
According to the city, the project is intended to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and create safer, more efficient connections between the freeway and local roads.
Federal grant records show the project includes reconfiguring the interchange, widening a segment of SR-74 and upgrading on and off ramps. The project also includes installing new traffic signals, freeway signage, ADA-compliant pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and drainage improvements.
The city said the BUILD grant was made possible through the support of U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert.
“Thank you to Ken Calvert, thank you to our community for speaking up and saying that this needs to be adjusted,” Councilmember Michael Carroll said during the July 28 City Council meeting. “And thank you to staff for going after this money and really giving us the opportunity to alleviate some of the traffic issues that we all face every day.”
Carroll said the funding must be obligated by September 2030 and that the project is already being studied
