FHWA Celebrates Devore Interchange Groundbreaking

Topics:  Interstate Highway System

Federal Highway Administration
28 June 2013

FHWA 29-13
Friday, June 28, 2013
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel: 202-366-0660

Project will improve safety, bring congestion relief

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau joined state and local officials for the groundbreaking of the Devore interchange project, which will improve safety and relieve congestion on a critical trade route in San Bernardino County. The $324 million project is being supported by $245 million in funding from the Federal Highway Administration.

"President Obama called on us to 'Fix it First' by making investments in existing infrastructure that will create jobs and strengthen the economy," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "The Devore interchange project is a great example of how we can do that."

Located where Interstate 15 (I-15) and Interstate 215 (I-215) cross, the interchange is a critical freight link that serves 21,000 trucks each day, while providing critical connectivity to Las Vegas and the Colorado River. More than one million drivers in San Bernardino County use the interchange on a weekly basis, and traffic can back up as far as five miles.

"This project will improve the efficiency of freight delivery," said Deputy Administrator Nadeau. "It will make travel safer and relieve congestion for commuters and truckers."

As part of the Devore project, the I-15/I-215 interchange and adjacent interchanges will be reconfigured with an added lane in each direction for a total of 5.3 miles throughout the project area. In addition to the new general traffic lanes, the project will also include a truck bypass lane in each direction over a two-mile stretch that will eliminate weaving between passenger cars traveling at higher speeds and lower-speed trucks.