Overpass Work to Close Freeways at ‘Y’

All southbound lanes on the Santa Ana and the San Diego freeways leading to the El Toro “Y” will be closed tonight for five hours so construction crews can begin working on the new Bake Parkway overpass.

The lanes will be closed between midnight and 5 a.m. every day this week through Friday, said Pam Gorniak, spokeswoman for the California Department of Transportation in Santa Ana.

Workers will be erecting the false work, or structure, for the overpass on Interstate 5, including the longest steel beams ever used for a freeway project in Orange County. Caltrans officials said the job will require beams that are 89 feet long and weigh 10 tons each.

Shortly before midnight, the California Highway Patrol will begin diverting southbound motorists on detours planned for both freeways. The Santa Ana Freeway will be closed at Alton Parkway, and the San Diego Freeway will be closed at Irvine Center Drive.

Motorists driving on the Santa Ana Freeway will exit at Alton Parkway, go east to Muirlands Boulevard and south to Lake Forest Drive. A right turn at Lake Forest Drive will lead back to the freeway.

Motorists driving on the San Diego Freeway will exit at Irvine Center Drive and go south to Lake Forest Drive, where they will be able to get back on the freeway.