In the 1990s and early 2000s, driving east or west on Van Buren Boulevard to either March Air Force Base or what is now called Jurupa Valley was a long, slow trip. It required crossing the narrow and heavily congested Van Buren Blvd/91 interchange. A pizza delivery driver who wanted to get to the other side of the 91 had to allow 10 extra minutes.

Led by the City of Riverside and Caltrans, the $35 million Route 91/Van Buren Blvd Interchange project widened the bridge over the 91 from four to six lanes with dual left-turn lanes to enter the 91. A new eastbound on-ramp was built on Indiana Avenue parallel to the 91, helping improve traffic flow at the Indiana Avenue/Van Buren Boulevard intersection. The project was completed in 2011.

The project also added water-saving landscaping and retaining walls to improve the area aesthetic.  Since that time, this area has seen an influx of restaurants and other businesses.

This interchange – and other infrastructure projects in western Riverside County – benefit from the MSHCP, which streamlines the environmental permitting process for infrastructure projects. This provides clearance and mitigation for federal and state endangered species under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Without the MSHCP, projects like the Route 91/Van Buren Blvd Interchange would require reviews by several agencies, adding years and additional costs before beginning construction.