Anyone trying to pass through Corona this weekend on the 91 can expect delays of up to four hours, transportation officials say.

But city residents will be able to use at least one lane on either side of the Maple Street bridge to leave town.

“This is strictly for local residents looking to get out of the area,” Riverside County Transportation Commission Deputy Director John Standiford said at a Wednesday, Feb. 17, news conference. “It’s very limited access … This is not intended at all for regional traffic passing through.”

One lane of the eastbound 91 will be open east of Paseo Grande. One westbound lane will be open west of Serfas Club Drive. No traffic will flow beneath the Maple Street bridge, which is being demolished over the weekend, and drivers coming back into the city won’t be able to use the 91, Standiford said.

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The 91 freeway will be emptied from 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, to 4 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, so construction crews can demolish the Maple Street bridge that spans the highway, install support beams for a new bridge, and pave the eastbound 91.

Highway congestion will likely spill onto the city streets as drivers look for a quicker route through the city. Corona police have announced they will staff up to 20 additional officers at times over the weekend to thwart drivers considering illegal moves to circumvent traffic.

Commission Executive Director Anne Mayer urged drivers to avoid the area, suggesting they stay home or take a train instead.

Metrolink plans to double its round-trip train routes Saturday and Sunday, to help connect the Inland area with coastal destinations. To entice train travel, Metrolink also will offer a two-for-one promotion that weekend, letting each ticket holder bring one guest for free.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9644, poneill@pe.com, @PE_PatrickO