Could it really be?

Thousands of anxious commuters may see their decade-long dream come true - in a matter of weeks.

Officials had hoped to surprise the region next week by announcing the next, and final, stretch of the 210 Freeway would open next Thursday.

But some of the equipment for the ramp meters experienced problems, and there are a number of little things that remain to be done.

Still, they're reasonably optimistic the new freeway will be open by the end of this month.

"I can't wait for it to happen," said Fontana Mayor Mark Nuaimi, who also sits on the board of San Bernardino Associated Governments, or Sanbag, which with Caltrans is finishing what may be the last new freeway in Southern California.

The final 7.5 miles from Rialto to San Bernardino, under construction since 2003, will connect to the 30 Freeway at the 215 Freeway and provide an uninterrupted run from the 10 in Redlands to the 5 Freeway in the north San Fernando Valley.

Originally known as the Foothill Freeway, the first segment of the freeway was completed in the Arcadia area nearly 40 years ago.

After the latest portion of the freeway opened between La Verne and Fontana in November 2002, Inland Valley foothill cities saw the completed sections through their areas spark a boom in new high-quality development.

Rialto and San Bernardino expect to reap the benefits next.

The freeway also should take a good deal of pressure off the 10 Freeway, which resembles a parking lot during rush hours.

The soon-to-be-opened freeway extension will feature three lanes plus a car-pool lane in each direction.

The most expensive single component has been the bridge over Lytle Creek, designed to stand up to the nastiest earthquake the San Andreas Fault can throw at it or the worst flood the mountains can hurl through the creek.

Last month, an estimated 20,000 people came out to the section in Rialto and San Bernardino for the "Come Play on the Freeway" celebration - a chance to bike, run and party on an eight-lane thoroughfare.

When the opening date is firmed up, Sanbag will plan some type of special event.

Staff writer Andrew Silva can be reached by e-mail at andrew.silva@sbsun.com. or by calling (909) 386-3889.

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BS Ranch Perspective:

There are a few bugs that need to be worked out! For Example, you are driving S/B on Riverside Ave. in Rialto, and you want to Continue S/B, you had better yield into the S/B #2 lane, or your going to end up on the I-210 E/B Lanes, because the S/B #1 lane of Riverside just merges into the Turn Pocket to the E/B I-210 Freeway, when it is a heavy traffic day it is a total Pain in the behind, because none of the S/B Traffic will allow anyone to merge from the S/B #1 Lane to the S/B #2 lane to continue South on Riverside. So, there needs to be an improvement there. BECAUSE IT SUCKS!!

Now Either Cal-Trans or the Planners of the I-210 E/B figured that people from Rialto would ever want anyone to go S/B on the I-215 Freeway. Now, I know that I live in Rialto, and I Live in the North end of Rialto, where I would want to go to the Inland Valley Mall, I also have been known to go to Moss Bro's Dodge to get my Vehicle serviced. Now The plans that they came up with for people from Rialto or the people from Rancho or anyone for that matter to come from the West with whom want to go S/B on the I-215 then we are forced to come into a small batch of signs where to turn in order to go S/B on the I-215, The trouble is when you are speeding along at freeway speeds, in the Number one or two lanes it is impossible to get over in time for the off ramp for State street to exit and make the Detour concoction for the S/B I-215 Drive!! CAL-TRANS HAS TO GET THIS FIXED ASAP!!!

ALL OF THESE CONCERNS ARE FROM THE PEOPLE THAT DRIVE FROM THE WEST TO SAN BERNARIDNO, SO EITHER CAL-TRANS DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE FROM THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE INLAND EMPIRE TO GO TO SAN BERNARDINO, OR IT IS SAN BERNARDINO ITSELF!!! Who is it!!

Cal-Trans needs to fix these problems and it would be better to have it done sooner then later.

There is some other things that need to be done, For example the Pepper Ave project has been said that it was approved for a go ahead for an on ramps and off ramps to the I-210, however that construction has not been started! Also, when will the Sand pit, be cleaned up and Easton Ave. be opened all the way through to Riverside Ave. from Ayala Ave. The time is now that it should be done.

BS Ranch