August 6, 2013
I-405 Full Shutdown Planned For ‘Bridge Bash’
Freeway will close for 20 hours Aug.17-18
between I-605 and Valley View Street in Orange County
ORANGE – The San Diego Freeway (I-405) is scheduled to be fully closed in both directions from 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 through 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, between the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) and Valley View Street in Westminster.
The 20-hour full freeway closure is necessary so crews can demolish the bridge linking the southbound I-405 to eastbound Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) as part of the West County Connectors project. Construction of a new connector bridge was completed late last month and is now being used by drivers.
“We know this ‘Bridge Bash’ has the potential to disrupt traffic for the hundreds of thousands of people who use the I-405 on a typical summer weekend and we are encouraging drivers to avoid the freeway in this area,” said Greg Winterbottom, chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority. “For the safety of our construction workers and the traveling public, this work requires a full freeway closure and we ask motorists to plan ahead and find other routes to their destinations.”
Traffic on I-405 near the border between Orange and Los Angeles counties averages approximately 370,000 vehicles each day, making it one of the busiest in the nation. Typical weekend traffic in the area is 350,000 vehicles a day.
OCTA in partnership with Caltrans is in the process of a significant public awareness campaign to ensure drivers are informed of the closure. Efforts include hand delivering 67,000 fliers to residents along I-405, outreach to Southern California airports, ports, entertainment, arts and sporting venues, employers and government agencies. OCTA and Caltrans also are reaching out through advertising in newspapers, online, radio and television, as well as through traditional media and social media, using the hashtag: #bridgebash. In addition, the overhead freeway signs announce the closure and 30 portable message signs are being posted on freeways throughout Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties.
Caltrans also will be taking advantage of this 20-hour closure to conduct maintenance activities that would normally require separate closures over a seven-day period. Caltrans maintenance crews will perform crack sealing, weed abatement and median drainage cleaning while the freeway is closed.
“Utilizing this opportunity and working with our partners, Caltrans is able to achieve efficiencies and significant savings of taxpayer dollars,” said District 12 Director Ryan Chamberlain.
For those who aren’t able to avoid the I-405 during the closure, there are several detour routes that will be clearly signed.
Drivers heading north on I-405 should use one of the following detours:
- Exit Beach Boulevard and turn right; take the westbound SR-22 on-ramp to reconnect with northbound I-405
- Exit Westminster Avenue (east) and turn left; turn right on Bolsa Chica Road; take the westbound SR-22 on-ramp to reconnect with the northbound I-405
- Exit Valley View Street and turn left on Garden Grove Boulevard; turn right on Valley View Street; take the westbound SR-22 on-ramp to reconnect with northbound I-405
Drivers heading south on I-405 should use one of the following detours:
- Exit Studebaker Road and turn right; turn left on E. 2nd Street / Westminster Avenue; continue on Westminster Avenue to access southbound I-405
- Merge onto northbound I-605; exit Katella Avenue and turn right; turn right on Valley View Street to access southbound I-405
Drivers traveling south on I-605 should use the following detour:
- Exit Willow Street and turn right; turn left on Studebaker Road; turn left on E. 2nd Street / Westminster Avenue; continue on Westminster Avenue to access southbound I-405
Drivers traveling on 7th Street / eastbound SR-22 should use the following detour:
- Merge on northbound I-605; exit Katella Avenue and turn right; turn right on Valley View Street to access southbound I-405
The $277 million West County Connectors project will improve traffic flow by directly connecting carpool lanes on I-405, I-605 and SR-22. In addition, a second carpool lane will be constructed on I-405 between SR-22 and I-605. The 6-mile project traverses the cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Long Beach and the community of Rossmoor. Started in 2010, construction on the West County Connectors project is expected to be complete in late 2014 or early 2015.
For more information regarding the upcoming closure, visit www.octa.net/bridgebash
