If you’ve spent any time driving through the Inland Empire or Orange County, you know the 91 is basically a rite of passage. Honestly, it’s one of those freeways where you don't just "drive"—you survive it.
Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, has been a particularly weird day for commuters and Sunday travelers alike. Between the massive sign rehabilitation projects near Los Angeles and the never-ending 71/91 interchange work in Riverside County, the road looks more like a giant LEGO set than a highway.
If you’re stuck in the mess right now, here is the breakdown of why your GPS is screaming at you.
The Chaos Near the Orange and Riverside County Line
The biggest headache today—and let's be real, most days lately—is centered around the 71/91 Interchange.
Caltrans and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) have been hacking away at this for what feels like an eternity. Today, the focus has been on the Eastbound 91 Express Lanes. They were shut down from the Orange County line all the way to the I-15.
Why? Because they're trying to shove a new connector bridge into a space that barely fits a Honda Civic.
If you were heading toward Riverside, you likely saw the "No Detour Required" signs. Don't let those fool you. While the general-purpose lanes stayed open, the sudden surge of cars jumping out of the Express Lanes into the main flow created that lovely "accordion effect" we all love to hate.
The Breakdown of Specific 91 Fwy Incidents
It hasn't just been planned construction. The CHP (California Highway Patrol) has been busy since the sun came up.
Around 5:19 AM, a Hit and Run was reported on the Westbound 91 at Adams Street in Riverside. Luckily, no one was hurt, but it left a bit of debris that caused the early morning crowd to swerve and slam on brakes. Just minutes later, another hazard popped up near La Sierra Avenue.
Further west, near Weir Canyon Road in the Santa Ana Canyon, a traffic collision around 10:33 PM last night bled into this morning's cleanup operations. That stretch of the 91 is notoriously dark and curvy, and even a small fender-bender there can back up traffic for miles into Yorba Linda.
The Massive Sign Project in Los Angeles
If you’re traveling closer to the L.A. County side, specifically between Cerritos and Gardena, things are even messier.
There is a $34 million project happening right now to rehabilitate signs and lighting. It sounds boring, but the impact is massive. Caltrans has been dropping the freeway down to just two lanes in certain sections.
- Eastbound 91: Reduced to two lanes between Vermont Avenue and the 605.
- Westbound 91: Same deal, two lanes only from the 605 back to Atlantic Avenue.
- Connector Closures: The transitions to the I-110 and I-710 have been flickering on and off like a bad lightbulb.
Basically, if you’re trying to move between the South Bay and the Inland Empire today, you’ve probably spent more time looking at someone’s bumper than at the road.
Why This Specific Stretch is Such a Nightmare
The 91 isn't just a road; it’s a funnel. It takes all the people who work in Orange County and dumps them into the Inland Empire every night. On weekends, it’s the reverse with people heading to the beach or the parks.
The 71/91 interchange project is designed to fix the "Green River bottleneck." Most people don't realize that the current configuration forces thousands of drivers to merge across three lanes in about half a mile. It’s a design flaw from the 70s that we are finally paying to fix in 2026.
According to RCTC experts, the goal is to complete the new 71-to-91 connector by late next year. Until then, Sunday closures like the one we're seeing today are the new normal.
Avoiding the Trap
If you are still planning to head out, or if you're checking this before your commute home, you have a few options that aren't the 91.
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- The 60 Freeway: It’s further north, but it’s often faster when the 91 is a parking lot.
- Carbon Canyon (SR-142): It’s a beautiful drive, but it’s slow and winding. Don't take it if you're in a hurry, but take it if you're about to lose your mind in stop-and-go traffic.
- Metrolink: Honestly, on days like today, the train starts looking like a genius move.
What You Should Do Next
Check the Caltrans QuickMap or the CHP CAD site before you put the car in reverse. The situation on the 91 can change in five minutes. One stalled car in the Santa Ana Canyon can add 40 minutes to your trip instantly.
If you are heading Eastbound toward Corona, try to exit at Green River Road and use Palisades Drive as a bypass. It won't save you an hour, but it will keep you moving, which is better for your sanity than sitting still. Keep your eyes on the overhead digital signs; they are actually being updated in real-time today due to the active work zones.
Be careful around the K-rails. The lanes are narrower than usual near the 605 interchange, and there isn't much of a shoulder if something goes wrong.