Measure I: I-215 Widening - San Bernardino
Construction began in January 2007 on the first phase of the Interstate 215 widening project throughout downtown San Bernardino. SANBAG, Caltrans, the Federal Highway Administration and the City of San Bernardino are partners in this project, which is designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve freeway operations.
Current Project Information
- See the project brochure: Bye-Bye Traffic!
- See the project newsletter, "Cruising Through Construction"
- For current construction information, visit the I-215 traffic advisories page...
- See a photo history of the project, visit the I-215 Project Photolog...
- SANBAG maintains a project database of parties who would like to be informed about construction activity on Interstate 215.
- Register to receive project updates by email.
I-215 Project Details
This project involves adding a mixed-flow lane and a carpool lane both northbound and southbound from just north of Interstate 10 to State Route 210, flyover connectors from the 215 to the 210 and also will be constructed as well as an auxiliary lane in each direction between 5th Street and the State Route 259 split,between 2nd Street and Mill Street, between 5th Street and Baseline, and in the southbound direction between the Route 210/I-215 interchange to University Parkway. Sound walls and retaining walls will be constructed as well.
Widening and realigning of the freeway will improve access to the west side of Interstate 215 and enhance safety with the removal of entrances and exits from the fast lane and the addition of more conventional diamond interchanges. Right-of-way will be required for the project along the corridor. The exact requirements for some of the corridor right-of-way remain to be finalized.
In 2003, an average of 83,000 vehicles per day traveled through this section of Interstate 215. This number is expected to grow to 135,000 vehicles per day by 2030.
The total cost is estimated to be $800 million and will be financed by a combination of federal, state, and Measure I funds. SANBAG has designed the freeway segments between Rialto Avenue and Route 210. Caltrans has designed the freeway segment from Orange Show Road to south of Rialto Avenue. The project includes four phases, outlined below.
An artist's rendering of the new 5th Street bridge
Phase I: 5th Street Bridge
Estimated Dates: Early 2007 to Mid-2009
Work began in January 2007 for the reconstruction of the 5th Street bridge, the first phase of the Interstate 215 widening project. The bridge widening is expected to take about 30 months to complete. SANBAG serves as the lead for this phase of work.
This project includes building the new bridge and removing the existing bridge in stages. New bridge approaches will be constructed between H Street and J Street, a process that involves regrading and elevating streets and intersections. Construction activity is requiring extensive coordination with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, which has approximately 100 trains using the tracks each day in this area – an average of one train every 15 minutes. The construction work will require trains to be stopped for short periods of time, except during the heavy fourth quarter of each year.
Efforts will be made to keep 5th Street open to motorists as much as possible, but some closures will be required, particularly at night. Weekend closures also will be needed to repave and elevate the streets. Construction work will require about 18 instances of full freeway closures at night throughout the 30 months of the project. This will require drivers to be detoured to H Street for about seven or eight hours at night. The closures will cover several consecutive nights for falsework placement, bridge demolition and falsework removal.
Temporary freeway lane closures and ramp closures will be needed. The northbound 4th Street on-ramp will be closed for about six months, likely in mid- to late-2008.
Phase II: Freeway Widening, Orange Show Roadto Rialto Avenue
Estimated Dates: Spring-2008 to Summer-2010
Caltrans will serve as the lead agency for this section of the freeway widening project, which is tentatively scheduled to start in spring of 2008. The $89 million, three-year project includes: widening freeway lanes from three to five lanes in each direction; new on- and off-ramps located directly on Mill Street; improvements to Mill Street — including widening from two to three lanes plus left turn lanes; a new bridge at Inland Center Drive with two lanes in each direction and turn lanes; wider bridges over Warm Creek and Lytle Creek and drainage improvements.
Phase III: Freeway Widening, Rialto Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue
Estimated Dates: Summer 2008 to Summer 2012
SANBAG will serve as the lead agency for this section of the freeway widening project, which is tentatively scheduled to start in the summer of 2008 and last approximately four years. This work will include new bridges at 2nd Street, 3rd Street, 9th Street, Base Line and 16th Street, sound walls, drainage improvements, local street improvements, reconfiguration of the interchange between Interstate 215 and State Route 259 and new northbound and southbound lanes.
Phase IV: Freeway Widening, Massachusetts Avenue to Route 210
Estimated Dates: Summer 2008 to Summer 2013
SANBAG will serve as the lead agency for this section of the freeway widening project. Work is tentatively set to start in mid-2009 and take about four years to complete. This segment will involve the reconstruction of bridges at Massachusetts Avenue, Highland Avenue, and 27th Street , sound walls and operational and drainage improvements. Flyover connectors from I-215 to Route 210 will also be constructed during this phase as well as a southbound auxiliary lane from Univeristy Parkway to the 210/215 interchange and a general use lane on the northbound side through the same stretch of freeway.
