Murrieta drivers heading south on Interstate 215 will lose access to a key on-ramp and connector lanes for five hours on Election Day.

Caltrans will close the circle on-ramp at Murrieta Hot Springs Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, so maintenance crews can repair a ramp meter, Patch reported. The Lake Elsinore maintenance crew will work alongside the South Electrical crew on the repairs, according to the Caltrans announcement reported by Patch.

The southbound I-215 connector to Interstate 15 will also see lane closures during the same window. The No. 1 lane will shut down from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The No. 2 lane will close from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Caltrans said the closures are needed to ensure the safety of workers and motorists during the ramp meter work.

Election Day overlap

The five-hour closure window falls squarely on Election Day. Murrieta voters heading to polling places or ballot drop-off sites that afternoon could encounter delays near the I-215/I-15 interchange.

Several local races are on the Nov. 3 ballot, according to a Murrieta voter guide published by Patch. Two Murrieta City Council seats in Districts 2 and 5 are up for election. Two Murrieta Valley Unified School District trustee seats, covering Areas 1 and 2, are also on the ballot. Four Rancho California Water District board seats round out the local contests.

Riverside County Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco has encouraged all eligible voters to cast their ballots in the general election. The registrar's office mailed 1.4 million vote-by-mail ballots countywide. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3. Ballots deposited at drop boxes must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

What drivers should know

Caltrans did not specify a detour route. The agency advised motorists to follow posted detour signs, use caution near the work zone and watch for maintenance crews and equipment.

Residents who need to reach Caltrans District 8, which covers Riverside and San Bernardino counties, can email [email protected]. The district noted its phone lines are being upgraded.

All lanes and ramps are scheduled to reopen by 2 p.m.