Crews are set to demolish a portion of the Avenida Pico bridge in San Clemente early next month as part of the Interstate 5 (I-5) South County Improvements Project. The $230 million project extends the carpool lane in each direction from San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano to Avenida Pico in San Clemente. Avenida Pico also is being widened, and on- and off-ramps are being improved throughout the project area.
Over the last two months, crews removed the center median between Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida Pico and are paving over the area in anticipation of shifting traffic to the east the week of April 27. Once traffic has been shifted, crews will work behind k-rails to demolish the outside 40 feet of the southbound I-5 freeway over Avenida Pico. That demolition is scheduled for the nights of May 1 and 2.
In late 2016, once work is completed on the southbound side of I-5, traffic will be shifted to the newly constructed portion of the freeway and widening work will begin on the northbound side of I-5. Though there will be some nighttime lane reductions, eight traffic lanes will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.
For more information about the project and to sign up for email construction alerts, visit octa.net/I5South.
