Beaumont Touts Plans for $65-Million Potrero Boulevard Bypass Interchange

The city of Beaumont in 2012 will start the first phase of a two-part project leading to a new $65-million interchange for the Potrero Boulevard Bypass, according to a city announcement on Monday.

The first phase involves building a six-lane bridge over Highway 60 by 2013, Beaumont officials said.

The bridge will improve connections between San Timoteo Canyon, Oak Valley Parkway and Highway 60, and it will also connect Fourth Street to Highway 60 and Interstate 10, Beaumont officials said.

The second phase, which should occur in five to 10 years, will build the Potrero Bypass interchange, Beaumont officials said.

"New roads and bridges are vital to the Inland Empire’s future and will boost the local and regional economy," Mayor Brian De Forge said in the announcement. "In Beaumont, we have a long history of leading the way in transportation."

The interchange will open up land for a regional mall, industrial and commercial building, and lead to thousands of new jobs, according to Beaumont officials.

The new interchange will also relieve traffic on Interstate 10 in emergencies when the freeway becomes clogged or is closed down, Beaumont officials said.

The Potrero Boulevard Interchange will be located on Highway 60, a mile west of the Interstate 10/Highway 60 junction. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to use bridge to cross above traffic below, Beaumont officials said.

Planning for the bridge and extension of Fourth Street are almost complete, Beaumont officials said.

It’s expected to cost about $27 million to build the bridge over Highway 60 and to extend Fourth Street, according to Beaumont officials.

The new Potrero interchange will cost another $38 million. Local, state and federal transportation funds will be used for both projects, Beaumont officials said.

In June, city officials opened the new $12 million Centennial Memorial Bridge over the San Timoteo wash, connecting Oak Valley Parkway to a southbound road that leads to Western Knolls Avenue.

One mile from the Centennial bridge motorists can get on the westbound 60, and 1.5 miles from the Centennial bridge they can get on the eastbound 60.