ORANGE – Drivers should be alerted that nighttime partial and full lane closures on alternate sides of Interstate 5 (I-5) Freeway are being planned in South Orange County for several nights later this month, beginning Monday, July 17.
The lane closures will take place between Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano and Avenida Pico in San Clemente. All lanes of the southbound I-5 are scheduled to close overnight on July 19-21, and northbound I-5 is scheduled to close overnight July 26-28.
Each nighttime closure will take place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Drivers are advised that the temporary closures will cause significant travel delays as crews work to remove existing, outdated overhead signs that span the freeway, and install new ones.
It is recommended that drivers avoid the area, if possible, during the nighttime construction periods. No work is scheduled on the weekends.
The anticipated schedule is:
· July 17 and 18 – Nighttime lane closures on southbound and northbound I-5 between Camino Capistrano and PCH/Camino Las Ramblas
· July 19, 20 and 21 – Southbound I-5 full freeway, nighttime closure between Camino Capistrano and PCH/Camino Las Ramblas.
· July 24 and 25 – Nighttime lane closures on southbound and northbound I-5 between PCH/Camino Las Ramblas and Avenida Pico.
· July 26, 27 and 28 – Northbound I-5 full freeway, nighttime closure between Avenida Pico and PCH/Camino Las Ramblas.
During the full freeway closures on southbound and northbound I-5, drivers can use Camino Capistrano and North El Camino Real/Pacific Coast Highway as detours.
The full closures schedule for July 21 and 28 will only take place if needed to finish the construction work. Please visit www.octa.net/I5southdetours during the closure period for the latest information on closures and detours.
Construction on the I-5 South County Improvements Project began in 2014. The project will add nearly six miles of carpool lanes in each direction from Avenida Pico in San Clemente to San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano. Avenida Pico is being widened as part of the project as well.
The $230-million project is scheduled for completion in 2018 and is part of the Measure M program, the voter-approved, half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
