O.C. drivers urged to ‘steer clear’ of 405 closure, ‘Bridge Bash’
Residents of Orange County and surrounding areas are girding for a 20-hour closure of a stretch of the 405 freeway that starts Saturday night.
Call it the Bridge Bash, the Orange Jam or just a pain. A four-mile stretch of the southbound 405 will be closed between the 605 and 22 freeways starting at 9 p.m. The northbound side will be closed at Valley View Street. Officials warned drivers to stay away, if possible.
“If you don’t need to be in the area, steer clear,” said Ted Nguyen, a spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority.
The closure will allow workers to demolish a bridge as part of a $277-million project to link carpool lanes of the 405, 22 and 605 freeways.
The affected section of the 405 is one of the busiest in the country. With more than 300,000 vehicles passing through on an average weekend summer day, beachgoers, truck drivers, sports fans and others will have to contend with detours and delays. Various summer beach events, concerts and a Saturday night Galaxy game at the StubHub Center in Carson could add to the numbers on the road.
“The public just needs to realize there are alternatives. If you’re a local, you know how to get around,” said Supervisor John Moorlach. “If you’re up in L.A. and you’re going to San Diego just stay on the 5 or … just be creative.”
“Hopefully, we go through this just like Carmageddon,” he said. “It got so much media attention that by the time it rolled around no one complained.”
The area affected by the closure has a few things in its favor to mitigate any potential traffic disasters, including freeway options like the 5 and the 91. Those who choose to brave the 405 will have a few alternatives for detours: southbound motorists can use Katella and Westminster Avenues. Northbound motorists will have to exit at Valley View Street, but can get back on the freeway using the westbound 22, which merges with the northbound 405.
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Twitter: @PalomaEsquivel
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