On Dec. 10, the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) awarded a $107 million construction contract to Skanska USA Civil West California District Inc., the Riverside-based division of Skanska USA, one of the largest construction companies in the United States. The contract will cover widening of the corridor, the installation of a raised median and a new bridge over the San Jacinto River.
The Mid County Parkway, also referred to as the Ramona Expressway, is a long-planned 16-mile transportation corridor in Riverside County intended to connect Highway 79 in San Jacinto to the 215 Freeway in Perris.
The project is the eastern half of an earlier 32-mile corridor that was cut in half following funding and environmental planning challenges. However, despite its reduced size, the project has continually faced opposition from local residents, business owners and employees who fear displacement from their homes and workplaces through eminent domain. This allows the government to legally acquire private properties for public use, provided there is just compensation.
The Ramona Expressway, which is currently one lane each way, will be widened along an eight-mile stretch starting in February 2026. Construction is estimated to be complete by June 2028, and the improvements are designed to increase transportation capacity, reduce congestion, improve roadway safety and reduce fatal accidents for motorists traveling between Perris and San Jacinto.
In addition to improving highway operations and reducing road congestion, the newly allotted funding also covers Skanska USA’s construction of a dedicated wildlife crossing. In prior years, Skanska has built similar crossings to address heightened wildlife-vehicle collision rates that posed risks to both motorists and local wildlife, using cameras along the crossings to monitor how often and in what ways various wildlife species utilize them.
