State Route 98 access in Calexico opens Wednesday

Caltrans announced that one lane in each direction of State Route (SR-98) will reopen from just east of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to Ollie Avenue in Calexico Wednesday afternoon.

The opening of the lanes comes three months earlier than expected for construction on the SR-98 Widening Project.

Access will remain closed at Cesar Chavez Boulevard to and from SR-98 for about six weeks for work at the intersection. There will be signs placed to detour drivers on eastbound and westbound SR-98 around the closure.

Drivers on Cesar Chavez Boulevard may access SR-98 using these same detours:

-Eastbound SR-98: Traffic will be detoured to Kloke Road south to Grant Street east to Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

-Westbound SR-98: Traffic will be detoured to Ollie Avenue south to McKinley Street east, to Harold Avenue south, to Grant Street West, to Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

-Southbound State Route 111: As an alternative, motorists may use Imperial Avenue (SR-111) south, to Grant Street West, to Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

Commercial vehicles may continue using Interstate 8 as a detour.

Construction on Phase 1B of the SR-98 Widening Project began in March to widen SR-98 from two to four lanes from east of Eady Avenue to the west of Ollie Avenue in Calexico including widening and signalizing the intersection at Cesar Chavez Boulevard. The estimated total cost of Phase 1B is $12.9 million.

Construction completion is expected early 2018.