UPDATE: This project was completed ahead of schedule.
Improvements to the Peyton Drive corridor are continuing and the next phase will cause significant impacts to motorists. Chino Hills officials are gearing up to completely reconstruct the Grand Avenue /Peyton Drive intersection. The aging asphalt is covered with "alligator cracks," caused by the heavy traffic load over the years, and must be removed and rebuilt. Workers must dig down 24" to remove the existing road material.
Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 24th, which marks the start of spring break for Chino Valley Unified School District. City officials selected the start date because traffic in the area will be reduced somewhat due to spring break. The project is expected to continue through April 4th at a minimum. If unforeseen challenges are encountered during construction, it may take longer. As the date approaches, motorists are urged to check the City's website, www.chinohills.org/peytontraffic, to verify that the start date has not changed. "There is no way around it, this segment of the project will cause more impact to motorists than we have seen to date," said Ben Montgomery, Neighborhood Services Manager. "Roads do wear out and the intersection must be rebuilt. With all of the infrastructure improvements planned for the Peyton corridor, this is the best time to rebuild the intersection."
Grand Avenue carries a significant amount of east/west commuter traffic and Peyton Drive is a major north/south route in Chino Hills. Due to the nature of the project, lane closures and impacts will continue 24/7 at times. "This is a construction project that can't be "buttoned up" at the end of the work day," said Mr. Montgomery. "We are urging motorists to share this information with others and to avoid the area. We also understand that many residents need to reach destinations on Peyton Drive and we urge them to allow significant time whenever they must go through the intersection."
Motorists can view the intersection, in real time, through the City's webcam by visiting www.chinohills.org/peytonwebcam. As workers rebuild the road, motorists will traverse an intersection where traffic has been reduced to one lane in each direction during most of the project. Motorists will be required to respond to a flashing red light which operates as a four-way stop. City engineering officials indicate that because traffic will be moved to various lanes throughout the project, it is unsafe and confusing to retain an operational traffic signal. With as much traffic as the intersection carries, officials are predicting horrific traffic tie-ups if people do not avoid the area. "We also expect increased traffic in other areas of the City as motorists find alternate routes to avoid Grand Avenue and Peyton Drive," said Montgomery.
Motorists can avoid the area by using alternate routes such as the 71 Freeway, Chino Hills Parkway, and Chino Avenue. Commute traffic will likely increase in Carbon Canyon and on local freeways. City officials are ramping up their efforts to get information to the public. Ads in local newspapers, information on the City website - www.chinohills.org, e-mail notifications to "Peyton Corridor" e-notify subscribers, City TV3, messages on water bills, signage, changeable message signs, and flyers distributed through businesses in the area are planned. The City has been working with a list of stakeholders throughout the project and they will be notified including Chino Valley Unified School District transportation officials, churches, homeowner's associations, the Post Office, and schools on Peyton Drive.
Contact: Valerie McClung (909) 364-2618 or Denise Cattern (909) 364-2615
and is not a part of nor affiliated with the City of Chino Hills.