During the next few weeks, reconstruction of three bridges spanning the freeway will reach major milestones as part of the I-405 Improvement Project. The bridges are at Bolsa Chica Road, Edwards Street and Goldenwest Street and are among 18 bridges to be built, widened or replaced.
The Bolsa Chica Road and Goldenwest Street bridges are being reconstructed in two stages, one half at a time, allowing them to remain open to traffic in both directions during construction. Both the first reconstructed half of the new Bolsa Chica Road bridge and the first half of the new Goldenwest Street bridge opened in June.
Reconstruction of the second half of the Bolsa Chica Road bridge began in June and is expected to take approximately one year.
Demolition of the second half of the Goldenwest Street bridge is expected to occur on July 18 and 25. Reconstruction of that portion of the bridge is scheduled to take approximately one year to complete.
Unlike Bolsa Chica and Goldenwest, the Edwards Street bridge will be demolished and reconstructed in one stage, so it will be fully closed to traffic for approximately one year.
Demolition of the Edwards Street bridge will require a full closure of I-405 between Goldenwest and Edwards. That closure is scheduled for 10 p.m. Saturday, July 11, to 9 a.m. Sunday, July 12.
Detours will be in place to guide drivers around all the closures. Up-to-date closure and detour information is available on the project’s interactive map at octa.net/405map or on the project’s mobile app. To download the free app, search for 405 Improvement in the App Store or Google Play.
The $1.9 billion I-405 Improvement Project is adding one regular lane in each direction between Euclid Street and I-605, and a second lane in each direction in the center of the freeway from SR-73 to I-605 that will combine with the existing carpool lanes to form the 405 Express Lanes.
This 16-mile segment of I-405 is one of the most heavily traveled stretches of highway in the nation, and drivers routinely face severe congestion in both the regular lanes and carpool lanes. The project is critical to accommodate expected employment, population and housing growth throughout the region.
The speed limit on I-405 has been reduced to 55 mph between SR-73 and I-605 for the safety of drivers and construction crews for the duration of the project, which is expected to be completed in 2023. Drivers are advised to slow down and proceed with caution whenever signs of highway work are present, and drivers whose vehicles become disabled should pull off at the nearest exit, if possible.
For more information about the I-405 Improvement Project, visit here.