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Caltrans San Jacinto Highway 74 project completed; Hemet SR 74 corridor project coming

Tony Ault Staff Writer

The California Department of Transportation announced its newest project in Hemet on the Highway 74 corridor may soon begin, but no actual start day has been made. In the meantime, Caltrans thanked local motorists for their patience in waiting for work on State Route 79 (Florida Ave.) in San Jacinto to be completed. That project is now completed, making that portion of the highway much safer.

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With completion of the $4 million San Jacinto project, Caltrans said this week, “Caltrans thanks everyone for their patience during the construction of this very important safety project. Watch for workers as they continue to clean up the project zone.”

Still to come for motorists in the Hemet and San Jacinto Valley in the next 2 years is the $51.6 million corridor improvement project on State Route 74 (SR-74) in Hemet.

This project will repave and rehabilitate 49 lane miles, install Traffic Management Systems (TMS), upgrade curb ramps, sidewalks and driveways to ADA standards (Americans with Disabilities Act), enhance bike lane signage and striping, and upgrade 29 bus pads within the project parameters, all weather permitting.

The project is awarded to Griffith Company of Brea, California. When work begins, it will start at Winchester Road and SR 74 and end at Fairview Ave. in Valle Vista, for a length of 11.2 miles.

Caltrans announced, “Construction will begin soon. Start date to be determined. Work will occur Mondays through Fridays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with occasional weekend work. The highway will remain open for the duration of the project. Flagging operations will be primarily during the nighttime.“

Motorists will see detection signs in place and during the night work may expect delays up to 15 minutes. There will be intermittent, short term closures for equipment relocation and construction staging purposes.

No long term closures are planned. Be advised that speed limits will be reduced by 10 mph throughout the construction zone. Construction activity is expected to take approximately 24 to 26 months.

Lake Elsinore

In the Lake Elsinore area, Caltrans is still continuing work on western State Route 74 in Riverside County from the Riverside and Orange County border to Monte Vista Street just west of Lake Elsinore.

Crews are performing work in various locations throughout the project zone.Weeknight full closures are still possible, with one-way traffic control with escorts in place from 8 p.m. to 9:59 p.m. During the hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the route will be closed to through traffic.

Residents and commuters will need to utilize the alternate routes to go around the closure each night beginning at 10 p.m. as access through the work zone will be prohibited during the previously stated hours. Residents on Tenaja Truck Trail or west of Tenaja Truck Trail, including the Ortega Oaks RV Park and Campground and The Candy Store, will be directed to Lake Elsinore, and will not be given access to go through to Orange County during work hours.

Residents at Long Canyon and Decker Canyon will be directed to Lake Elsinore and will not be given access to go through to Orange County during work hours. Caltrans said, “Be advised, you will experience long waits and delays due to construction operations. Please wait for the designated escort through the construction zone” Palm Springs Caltrans continues work on a

$5.5 million project to construct and upgrade curb ramps to Americans with Disabilities Act standards and modify signal and lighting systems on State Route 111 in Palm Springs. Weather and temperature dependent especially with the extreme high temperatures in recent weeks.

The crews are wrapping up the project with minor work taking place at various locations on SR111 from Lawrence Crossley Road to West Gateway Drive. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. No lane closures are needed at this time for final work. Continue to use caution and reduce speeds when approaching and passing through all work zones and workers at all times and watch for equipment movement,” Caltrans advises. The California Highway Patrol will be watching the traffic flow. Keep the speeds down!

Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com

to recreation fees identified by the San Bernardino National Forest

Proposed

SAN BERNARDINO – The San Bernardino National Forest is proposing changes to recreation fees at nine developed recreation sites on the three ranger districts of the forest.

Currently, approximately 40% of day-use sites, overnight camping sites and other developed recreation sites are managed without user fees.

“We recognize how important these sites are to our local communities and those who use the sites,” Jonar Rodrigo, manager of Southern Zone Adventure Pass and Recreation Fee Program with the San Bernardino National Forest, said. “These fee increases will help us maintain the sites to the level and quality people have come to expect, as well as make the fees more consistent throughout the state.”

The proposed fees by site and ranger district follow: at the Front Country District, the Applewhite Campground fee would increase from $10 to $25 for a single site. At the Mountain Top District, the Big Pine Flat OHV Staging Area fee would go from free to $5 per vehicle. At the San Jacinto District, the Pinyon Flats Campground fee would increase from $8 to $20 per night and $5 to $10 per additional vehicle; at the Marion Mountain and Fern Basin campgrounds the fees would be increased from $10 to $20 per night and $5 to $10 per additional vehicle; the Ribbonwood Equestrian Campground fee would change from $15 to $30 per night.

At the newly built OHV staging area at Big Pine Flat, the Annual Adventure Pass and the full suite of Interagency Passes would be honored.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed fee changes to the developed recreation program. The comment period is set to end by close of business Sunday, Oct. 1. Bring or mail written comments to San Bernardino National Forest, Attention: Jonar Rodrigo, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408 or communicate by email at sm.fs.BDFFEEPROP@ usda.gov. Comments can also be submitted at https://usfs.maps. arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index. html?appid=f6a8f81baf2843c8bd 96c8035d8cc3bc. Verbal comments can be provided in person at the San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor’s Office, located at the above mailing address, during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by calling 909-3822682 and indicating you would like to provide comments on the proposed recreation fee changes.

For more information on the proposed project, visit http://www. fs.usda.gov/sbnf.

After public involvement, the proposed fee changes will be reviewed by a Recreation Advisory Committee, who will submit their recommendation to the Regional Forester for a final decision.

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to retain funds collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and improve these sites. At least 80% of the revenue from recreation fees remains on the forests to operate, maintain and improve facilities. Raising the revenue collected through recreation fees would help the forests improve infrastructure at campsites and day-use sites and hire additional recreation staff during the season of operation. The resource derived through collection of fees helps provide quality recreation opportunities that meet the modern expectations of visitors and creates a more financially sustainable developed recreation program for the benefit of future generations.

Under REA, all new fees and any fee changes must be proposed and approved by a citizen’s advisory committee. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes.

Submitted by the Forest Service/ U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Four capybaras, the world’s largest rodents, born at the San Diego Zoo

endangered species, although it is threatened by deforestation, habitat destruction and illegal poaching.

The capybara youngsters are at the San Diego Zoo’s Elephant Odyssey, alongside the Baird’s tapir.

Four capybaras are born at the San Diego Zoo Sunday, July 23.

and mobile at birth, so the four youngsters are already nursing and following their mother. Despite their scientific name Hydrochoerus, which means “water hog,” capybaras are not pigs. They are the world’s largest rodent. They are related to guinea pigs, hamsters and mice. Capybaras are found in Central and South America, where they roam swampy, grassy regions bordering rivers, ponds, streams and lakes. The capybara is not currently classified as an

Valley News/San Diego Zoo photos SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Zoo welcomed four capybara pups, born to second-time mother Rosalina and first-time father Bowie Sunday, July 23, 2023. Capybaras are precocial, meaning they’re more mature

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships. Through wildlife care, science expertise

Cloned U.S. Border Patrol vehicle discovered in Mexico

CALEXICO – U.S. Border Patrol agents’ observations led Mexican authorities to a cloned U.S. Border Patrol truck near Mexicali Saturday morning, July 22.

At approximately 6:15 a.m., El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents observed an individual cutting the steel international boundary fence, nearly five miles from the Calexico Port of Entry. This observation was relayed to the El Centro Sector Foreign Operations Branch, which notified Mexican authorities. When authorities arrived on scene, they discovered the cloned truck, along with 17 individuals who Border Patrol suspects would soon have been smuggled across the border. Transnational criminal organizations profit by going to great lengths to smuggle people and contraband into the United States. Impersonating law enforcement officials is both reckless and illegal and is just one example of the smuggling tactics used by these criminal enterprises. CBP law enforcement personnel are aware of this tactic and remain vigilant for this type of illegal activity.

“The men and women of the El Centro Sector Border Patrol thank our partner, Director, Maestro Pedro Ariel Mendivil Garcia, and the Dirección de Seguridad Pública Municipal in Mexicali for their continued support of achieving the common goal of border security,” Acting Chief Patrol Agent Daniel Parra said.

The 17 individuals located with the truck were detained by Mexican authorities. The vehicle was seized by Mexican authorities, and the damage made to the international boundary fence was repaired. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. and collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. Annually, the alliance reaches over 1 billion people, in person at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and virtually in 150 countries through media channels, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Wildlife allies – members, donors and guests – make success possible. Submitted by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

Submitted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A cloned U.S. Border Patrol vehicle is seized south of the border by Mexican authorities after agents observed suspicious activity nearby. Valley News/U.S. Border Patrol photo

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