Nearly nine months after storm, Highway 243 will reopen Friday night, 'if not sooner'

Colin Atagi | Palm Springs Desert Sun

Travelers will finally have another way up and down the San Jacinto Mountains this week, and they won't even need escorts.

Nearly nine months after being destroyed by a powerful Valentine's Day storm, Highway 243 is on tap to reopen 6 p.m. Friday, "if not sooner," Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said.

The mountain road between Idyllwild and Banning has undergone extensive repairs since it was gutted by floodwaters in February.

Odds and ends are still scheduled, like striping and tree removal. But the road is safe for travelers and escorts won't be necessary to get them up and down the highway.

"Its like a brand-new road," Kasinga said.

Highway 243 was among a handful of roads damaged by the Feb. 14 storm, which dropped 3.71 inches of rain onto Palm Springs in one day. Flooding wiped out part of the highway near Lake Fulmore, which is about 15 miles south of Interstate 10

The big storm: Five people had to be rescued from flood waters

Most recent repair: Avenue 44 reopens after being damaged in February storm

Also closed was Highway 74 between Hemet and Mountain Center and escorts were later brought in to guide travelers on the road. Officials initially said escorts would be used on Highway 243 once conditions improved, but that's no longer necessary.

Mountain communities like Idyllwild were still accessible via Highway 74 from Palm Desert and highways 79 and 371 from Temecula, but businesses still experienced a loss of revenue and Riverside County officials urged people to visit the community.

Once Highway 243 reopens, Whitewater Canyon Road will be the only road in the area that's still closed due to the February storm. As a result, the Whitewater Preserve also is closed.

Reopening may happen this fall or winter, according to the Wildlands Conservancy website.

Desert Sun reporter Colin Atagi covers crime, public safety and road and highway safety. He can be reached at Colin.Atagi@desertsun.com or follow him at @tdscolinatagi