$4.8 Million in Road Repairs for Idyllwild area

4.7 miles of road will be repaved this summer in the Idyllwild area

IDYLLWILD – More than four miles of roads in the Idyllwild area, including to the downtown business corridor, North and South Circle Drive, will receive new paving this summer as part of a county transportation project approved May 9.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted to put a $4.8 million project for road repairs for the Idyllwild area, totaling 4.7 miles of roads, out to bid. The county will seek construction bids and, following approval of a construction contract, the project is anticipated to begin in summer 2023, with about three and a half months to complete the work.

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez acknowledged the work of the Riverside County Transportation Department and Supervisor Chuck Washington, who represented the Hill prior to redistricting, for their efforts to get these road projects in the works. Idyllwild and the mountain communities became part of the county’s Fourth District, represented by Supervisor Perez, in January 2023.

“This work has been going on before me, with Supervisor Washington,” Perez said in a statement. “I have been having listening sessions in Idyllwild, and this was part of their concerns. I just want to thank Supervisor Washington as well as TLMA for their efforts in this work that’s very much needed. This is a major investment into providing beautiful, smooth new roads that the Idyllwild community, local businesses and visitors will benefit from.”

The roads that will be resurfaced are:

• North Circle Drive, from Village Center Drive to Pine Crest Avenue;
• South Circle Drive, from Pine Crest Avenue to State Highway 243;
• Saunders Meadow Road, from Clubhouse Drive to State Highway 243; and
• Fern Valley Road, from South Circle Drive to Humber Park.

Interior roads and access roads for the Transportation Department’s Operations Yard in Idyllwild and for the Lawler Lodge and Alpine Cabins and parking area, camping facilities operated by the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District, are also set to be repaved.

These improvements will be paid for primarily through the county’s gas tax and SB 1 money (88.8%), gas tax and Proposition 111 (5.3 percent), with the remainder from the county park district and reimbursement for utility work by the Idyllwild Water District.

Photo Captions – Photos by the Riverside County Transportation Department show the current
pavement conditions of North Circle Drive in downtown Idyllwild.