City of Corona says McKinley Street grade separation likely open by late summer; waterline connection is last major task

City of Corona officials told residents Thursday evening that crews are close to finishing the McKinley Street grade separation and expect to open the bridge and roadway to full traffic by late summer, but a 30-inch water transmission connection remains the last major, time-sensitive task.

The update, delivered in a virtual public meeting hosted by Matt Evans of the project outreach team, described completed elements including the Estelle Road intersection, most retaining walls, Paseo Los Arcos (Loop Road) just short of McKinley and the Sampson Avenue slip ramp. Alan Zheng, the city’s senior engineer, said the team is "projecting completion of the project and traffic on the bridge by late summer of this year." He and other staff emphasized the waterline tap — a 30-inch transmission line that feeds roughly one-third of the city — as the remaining critical operation.

Why it matters: the waterline tie-in requires precise planning and minimal downtime to avoid interrupting service to customers, and the project’s remaining nighttime closures and traffic switches will largely support that connection and final paving, lighting and cleanup. The city also repeated detour guidance and business support resources meant to reduce local impacts as construction finishes.

Pro…