91 Freeway reopens in Corona after weekend closure

All lanes of the 91 Freeway in Corona, which closed for major construction work, reopened early Monday morning, transportation officials said.

The reopening at 3:30 a.m. marked the end of a planned 55-hour weekend closure of the roadway between Interstate 15 and California 71. The six-mile stretch was shut down at 9 p.m. Friday so road crews could begin demolition and repaving work.

Crews over the weekend also worked to tear down the western half of the Maple Street Bridge that extends over the freeway.

The work is as part of a project that also calls for new lanes, tolled express lanes, auxiliary lanes and direct express connectors from the northbound 15 to the westbound 91 and from the eastbound 91 to the southbound 15.

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Traffic was lighter than expected near the closure area and on the recommended detour routes, the Riverside County Transportation Commission said in a statement.

“We are grateful for the traveling public, who stayed away from the area, and the Corona residents who stayed close to home and enjoyed their community,” Anne Mayer, executive director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, said in a statement.

Going forward, intermittent nighttime rolling closures of selected lanes of the 91 near Maple Street may still be required, officials said.

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