Second Major Closure Begins for I-5/Ortega Project

By Brian Park

The southbound Interstate 5 on-ramp at Ortega Highway will be closed for the next five weeks, the second of a series of major closures in the California Department of Transportation’s massive interchange project.

The closure began Monday, Sept. 22 to allow Caltrans construction crews to realign and widen the ramp. Traffic on Ortega Highway will be detoured toward the southern Camino Capistrano ramps, using La Novia Avenue and San Juan Creek Road, or to the northern Junipero Serra ramps by way of Rancho Viejo Road.

Following the closure, Ortega, from the bridge to Del Obispo Street, will be closed for three weeks as crews work to realign the highway to curve into Del Obispo. No pedestrian access or westbound traffic will be allowed over the bridge during this time.

That will be followed by a reduction of Ortega, from El Camino Real to Del Obispo, to one lane in each direction for four weeks.

For more information, see www.ortega.dot.ca.gov.