For years, the drive across Salt Creek on Bradley Road ended at a barricade whenever a storm hit. When water rose about six inches over the old low crossing, the City of Menifee closed the road. Drivers trying to get between Sun City and the Newport Road side of town then had to take Interstate 215 or Murrieta Road, and the Press-Enterprise reported in 2016 that Murrieta Road could flood too, just less.
That crossing is gone now. Bradley Road reopened at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, as the Freedom Bridge. The 365-foot span carries traffic over Salt Creek instead of through it. Dry-weather drivers have had the road back for four weeks. The first storm that sends Salt Creek over its banks will be the first one in which this route stays open.
Six Inches of Water Used to Decide the Route
The old Bradley Road crossing closed a lot. In that same Press-Enterprise story from December 2016, the city's senior civil engineer said that in his three years with Menifee, the crossing had closed two or three times every winter. The storm that prompted the story kept Bradley Road closed for nearly 11 hours.
The pattern kept going well after that. On Feb. 6, 2024, Patch listed Bradley Road at Salt Creek Trail among the Menifee roads closed overnight for rain and flooding. It was still closed the next morning.
So the 14-month construction closure wasn't a new problem for this route. It made permanent, for more than a year, the same detour the rain had forced a few times every winter.
Bradley Road at Salt Creek, Era by Era
| Period | Dry day | Storm day | Walking and biking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before Aug. 4, 2025 | Open over the low crossing | Closed when water reached about six inches; detour by I-215 or Murrieta Road | No dedicated bridge bike lanes or sidewalk |
| Aug. 4, 2025 to Oct. 1, 2026 | Fully closed; detour by I-215 or Murrieta Road | Fully closed | Closed to pedestrians and cyclists at the work zone |
| Since Oct. 1, 2026 | Open on the Freedom Bridge | Designed to stay open during rain events | Dedicated bike lanes and a sidewalk |
The bottom row of that table hasn't been tested yet. The City's Oct. 13 release lists "reliable north/south connectivity on Bradley Road during a rain event" as the bridge's first benefit. It also says the bridge ends the need for motorists to drive through moving water in a storm.
Fourteen Months Closed, and Open Before "Late 2026"
The City posted its closure notice on July 23, 2025, and set a 12- to 14-month timeline. The road was rebuilt on schedule.
- July 2025. Pre-construction work begins, and the City posts its closure notice.
- Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. Bradley Road closes completely between Pebble Beach Drive and Rio Vista Drive. The City said the full closure was needed because the project footprint "is flanked by homes on both ends and in an environmentally sensitive area."
- Mid-September 2026. A Sept. 22 reopening date spreads around town. City communications director Phil Southard told Menifee 24/7 that it "was never an official date" and that the bridge would open in early October.
- Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. The bridge is ready, so city officials open it to traffic ahead of the ceremony, Menifee 24/7 reported.
- Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. City leaders, elected officials, staff and community members hold the official opening.
The 2025 notice said the project was "expected to be completed in late 2026, pending construction progress and weather conditions." Opening on Oct. 1 put the bridge in service before the wet months, which is when its main job starts.
What Changed Besides the Height
Raising the road above the water is the big change, but drivers will see a few others. Menifee 24/7, citing city officials, reported that the bridge carries two lanes in each direction, plus bike lanes and a sidewalk. There's also a new traffic signal at Rio Vista Drive, just south of the bridge. So if you drove this stretch before August 2025, you'll stop at a light that wasn't there.
The cost depends on the source. The City's Oct. 13 release calls it "the $16 million project." Menifee 24/7's Sept. 17 article, citing city officials, says $17.6 million. The release says the money came from federal, state, county and local sources: the City's Quality of Life Measure, federal funds, Riverside County Flood Control, and the Local Transportation Climate Adaptation Program. Flood Control is on that list because the road was rebuilt to sit above the creek.
The City also points to emergency response. On storm days, the old crossing cut off a north-south route that first responders could use. The release says the bridge helps "ensure faster response times for first responders serving the Menifee community."
Why the Bridge Is Called Freedom
City documents called the project the Bradley Road Bridge over Salt Creek. The Menifee City Council renamed it the Freedom Bridge on a recommendation from the City's Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee. Banners for all six branches of the U.S. military now line the bridge.
Mayor Pro Tem and District 1 Councilmember Bob Karwin spoke about the long wait in the City's Oct. 13 announcement:
"This long-awaited project not only provides a safer and more reliable connection for our community, but also improves emergency response capabilities and addresses longstanding flooding concerns that will benefit Menifee families for generations to come."
Valley News also covered the ceremony on Oct. 15.
The name points to the next date on the city calendar. Menifee's Veterans Day Celebration is Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon at Central Park, 30268 Civic Plaza Dr. The City lists special presentations, veteran recognition and speeches. Veterans and their families can also look into local resources and meet service providers.
Before the First Storm Arrives
A few loose ends from the closure are still settling around the bridge:
- Transit. During the closure, Riverside Transit Agency ran a long-term detour on Route 74. If you ride it, check RTA's rider alerts for the current routing.
- Salt Creek Trail. The trail stayed open during construction, but a section near Bradley Road was detoured through the surrounding neighborhood. The City's Bradley Bridge project page is the place to check for trail updates.
- McCall and Bradley. Menifee 24/7 reported on Aug. 24, 2026 that demolition had started at the northeast corner for a planned Burger King. The developer had submitted building plans and was still working on a final grading permit. That report gave no opening date.
None of these change what the bridge is for. The next time Salt Creek runs high, Bradley Road should stay open between Sun City and Newport Road, so the trip won't depend on how high the water is.
Changes like the Freedom Bridge are part of how we track Menifee street by street. The routes that stay open, the corners getting new businesses and the signals added near your home all shape how buyers see a neighborhood. If the reopened Bradley Road has you curious about what your home is worth now, Meeker Realty Group can give you a figure based on local knowledge. Get Your Free Home Valuation.
