Countywide : I-5 Freeway Off-Ramp at Newport Avenue to Be Closed

The California Department of Transportation has disheartening news for commuters traveling southbound on the Santa Ana Freeway who regularly turn off on the Newport Avenue off-ramp.

Beginning at midnight Sunday the off-ramp will be closed--permanently. A new Newport Avenue off-ramp is not expected to open until early May.

The new off-ramp will be about three-quarters of a mile north of the present Newport Avenue off-ramp. The new off-ramp is part of the Santa Ana Freeway improvement project.

The new off-ramp will be accessible to motorists approaching from the southbound Santa Ana Freeway and from the southbound Costa Mesa Freeway. But Caltrans officials say motorists on the northbound Costa Mesa Freeway traveling onto the southbound Santa Ana Freeway must take the Red Hill Avenue off-ramp to reach Newport Avenue.

However, Caltrans officials caution that project schedules are subject to change because of the weather. More information is available by calling the Transportation Helpline at (714) 724-2077 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.