Avenida Pico under the I-5 freeway continues to be completely closed at night Monday through Friday as crews work on falsework. The closures are expected to continue through early April. The work is part of the $230 million I-5 South County Improvements Project, which extends the carpool lane in each direction from San Juan Capistrano to San Clemente and reconstructs the Avenida Pico interchange.
Falsework is the temporary wood and steel beam structure that supports a new bridge after the concrete is poured. The falsework for the first half of the bridge was left in place until earlier this month because there was limited area to store the materials. Crews, using large forklifts and a crane, have removed the falsework under the west side of the new bridge. In the coming weeks, they’ll put it into place to build the east side of the new bridge.
For the safety of the construction crews and the traveling public, full closures are in place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday, potentially through mid-April. The closures affect Avenida Pico at the bridge, the northbound I-5 off- and on-ramps, and the southbound I-5 on-ramp.
Motorists should expect delays and use Avenida Vista Hermosa and Calle Frontera as detours. Businesses will remain open during construction.
Find out more about the project and sign up for weekly construction alerts here.