Burbank Boulevard bridge to close Saturday for demolition
There hasn’t been much in the way of vehicular traffic in Burbank lately because most people are staying at home due the public response to to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, state transportation officials are warning the public about the upcoming closure of the Burbank Boulevard bridge, which is expected to disrupt vehicular flow throughout the city.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Caltrans is slated to close the bridge to all pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic in both directions to allow crews to prepare for the demolition of the overpass next month.
The bridge was originally scheduled to be closed starting March 14 but that closure was delayed due to rains earlier this month. Transportation officials say the closure of the overpass could be pushed back again depending on the weather.
The demolition of the Burbank bridge is still scheduled for April 25, at which time the 5 Freeway will be closed in both directions around the bridge for 36 hours.
Should everything go as planned, the freeway should be reopened by 2 a.m. on April 27, according to Caltrans officials.
The agency is demolishing the bridge to widen the 5 Freeway in both directions, straighten the interstate and construct a longer and wider overpass.
The new bridge, which is planned to have 10 travel lanes, is expected to be completed within 14 to 16 months after the demolition of the existing structure.
Caltrans is asking the public to avoid the 5 Freeway when the demolition is in progress to avoid another “Carmageddon,” or the high traffic anticipated when the transportation agency closed the 405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass in 2011 for road work.
