SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : ‘Humdinger’ Traffic Snarl Is Forecast

Repair work that will temporarily shut down half of Del Obispo Street in the heart of town will create “a humdinger” of a traffic jam, Mayor Gary Hausdorfer said.

About 37,000 vehicles a day cross the railroad tracks at Del Obispo just west of Camino Capistrano. From Feb. 26 to March 2, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co. and the city will repair the railway crossings and the street leading up to them. Del Obispo will remain open, but only one lane each way.

Three other intersections in the city and surrounding area also are scheduled for repair work: Oso Road, Feb. 25-26; La Zanja Street, March 4; and Avenida Aeropuerto, March 5-7.

“Anyone who’s a little bit late will be a lot late on those days if they travel this way,” Hausdorfer said. “We suggest everyone make plans to use alternate routes.”

Signs and blinking lights will be placed on Del Obispo starting Thursday to warn motorists of the detour, said Bill Murphy, the city’s public works director.

The railroad will pay for replacing the tracks and crossing surfaces as part of a project to upgrade track throughout the county.

But the City Council this week allocated $90,000 for its share of the project, including traffic control, replacing and restriping streets and sidewalks, and public notification.