County says Harupa (Hooper) Road grade‑separation work will stretch into 2026; major November closure planned

Riverside County transportation staff told the Jurupa Valley City Council that construction on the Van Buren/Harupa Road grade‑separation project is progressing but will extend into 2026, and warned of substantial temporary closures that will affect local businesses and traffic patterns.

Hector Davila, deputy director for the County of Riverside Transportation Department, reviewed recent milestones: executed coordination agreements with Union Pacific Railroad enabling track and bridge work, near‑completion of Rutile/Van Buren intersection improvements and storm‑drain components, and ongoing work on a stormwater pump station and RCB (reinforced concrete box) drainage connections. “Now that we have the CNM in place, we have had weekly coordination meeting with UPR,” he said, referring to the construction‑and‑maintenance agreement needed for rail work.

Davila described a tentatively scheduled November closure at the Harupa/Felspar intersection to lower the roadway about 8 feet so Harupa Road can pass under the new Van Buren undercrossing; he said the closure could remain in place to complete major bridge and undercrossing phases into 2026 and noted contractors will shift traffic in stages. Earlier short closures (55‑hour weekend closures) at Pedley/Harupa are planned to finish the storm drain and signal work.

Council members and several public commenters urged the county to minimize business impacts, maintain driveway access to the Stater Brothers shopping center and use staged closures, advance notices and business outreach. Davila said driveway access would be maintained where possible, contractor housekeeping and temporary improvements would be coordinated, and the county intends business outreach meetings and proactive notifications.

Council members also asked the county to monitor blocking of intersections by parked trains and to coordinate with Union Pacific to reduce long stops; Davila said the CNM and weekly coordination create channels to escalate those complaints.

The county’s stated next steps: finish the stormwater and sidewalk work this summer, proceed with incremental traffic switches to open completed bridge sections, and plan the major November lowering and Shoe‑Fly temporary track operations needed to construct the mainline bridge. County staff estimated project completion in 2026, subject to weather, utility conflicts and other unknown buried conditions.

Affected businesses and residents should expect additional outreach from county staff about closures and detours; the council said it will press for measures to mitigate business hardship and expand outreach to affected property owners.