Caltrans , the Imperial County Transportation Commission and the City of El Centro have announced plans to begin construction on the Interstate 8 / Imperial Avenue Interchange Project.

The two-year project will see the removal of the existing bridge as well as eastbound on- and off-ramps and then reconstruct the bridge and the ramps in both directions. Construction will include a new entrance loop ramp from southbound Imperial Avenue to eastbound Interstate 8 and make possible the City of El Centro's extension of Imperial Avenue south of the freeway. The project is expected to begin in late spring or early summer of this year , take two years and carries a price tag of $42 million.

Stage 1 work on the southern portion of I-8 will take 8 to 10 months and will include closures on southbound Imperial Avenue to eastbound I-8 and eastbound I-8 to northbound Imperial Avenue.

Stage 2 work on the northern portion of Interstate 8 will take 4 to 6 months and will include fully closing I-8 / Imperial Avenue on- and off-ramps one direction at a time long term.

Night time full closures of the interchange will also occur up to 5 times during the project.

Caltrans invites the community to learn more about the project at an open house on Wednesday , January 15, 2020 from 4 - 7 p.m. at the El Centro Regional Medical Centers Medical Office Building on Ross Avenue in El Centro.