Caltrans warns of freeway closures

State transportation officials warned motorists this week about a number of temporary freeway closures in Burbank, as well as the long-term closure of the Burbank Boulevard onramp to the northbound Golden State (5) Freeway as part of the $355-million Empire construction project.

The Burbank Boulevard onramp will be closed through the fall tentatively starting next Wednesday, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Through this Friday, up to three lanes between Olive Avenue and Hollywood Way on both directions of the 5 Freeway will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

During the same time frame, the Buena Vista Street on and offramps in both directions of the freeway will be closed, as well as the northbound Burbank Boulevard offramp, and southbound Burbank Boulevard on and offramps.

The Walnut Avenue onramp to the northbound 5 Freeway will be closed long-term through 2016, along with the southbound Scott Road offramp and Victory Boulevard/Lincoln Street onramp, which will be closed through 2015.

At night through Friday, construction crews will be installing concrete barriers and striping between Buena Vista and Cohasset streets on the southbound 5 Freeway while utility workers remove gas lines near the intersection of Empire Avenue and Victory Place.

“We would remind people to slow down in construction zones,” said Caltrans spokeswoman Kelly Markham, adding that the agency is working to mitigate construction noise and vibration. “It’s impossible to construct a project like this without having some impacts, although we will mitigate to the extent possible.”

Slated to be completed in March 2018, the project includes adding two miles of carpool lanes in each direction between Magnolia Boulevard and Buena Vista Street, reconstructing the Burbank Boulevard overcrossing, and constructing a new interchange at Empire Avenue.