Work is continuing on the foundation and the substructure for the new I-5 bridge over Avenida Pico in San Clemente, part of the $230 million I-5 South County Improvements Project.
The project is rebuilding the interchange in order to extend the carpool lane in both directions from San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano to Avenida Pico in San Clemente.
Crews recently completed driving steel piles for the foundation of the new bridge being constructed adjacent to the southbound side of the freeway. Now they are focused on building the bridge abutments, which will support the bridge deck.
At the same time, construction has begun on the new retaining wall along westbound Avenida Pico, just before the on-ramp to northbound I-5. Crews are excavating dirt and constructing the wall from the top down. The new wall will allow Avenido Pico to be widened to accommodate dedicated turn lanes onto the freeway on-ramps in both directions.
Elsewhere on the project:
- Work continues on realigning ramps at the Avenida Vista Hermosa and Camino de Estrella interchanges
- Most retaining walls have been completed, and crews are preparing the new outside lanes of the roadway for future paving
- Foundations are being constructed for sound walls along southbound I-.
The speed limit on the freeway from PCH to Pico has been lowered to 55 mph, one of several efforts to increase safety for motorists and construction crews. Motorists can expect to see additional enforcement of the new limit by the California Highway Patrol.
Find out more about the project and sign up for email construction alerts at octa.net/I5South.
