Work is continuing on the new I-5 bridge over Avenida Pico, part of the $230 million I-5 South County Improvements Project that extends the carpool lanes from San Juan Capistrano to San Clemente.
Pile driving for the Avenida Pico bridge foundation on the west side of the interchange is done, and crews are building the bridge abutments and pilasters, which will support the bridge deck. Work also is beginning on large retaining walls adjacent to the southbound Pico off-ramp and on-ramp.
Crews have already begun installing steel beams for the bridge falsework, the temporary structure used during construction of the bridge and bridge deck. The beams will extend across Pico, requiring several full nighttime road closures, currently scheduled for early to mid-April.
Once this new portion of bridge is completed, freeway traffic will be shifted onto it and the remainder of the old bridge will be demolished and rebuilt. The traffic shift is expected to take place toward the end of the year.
In the coming months, the southbound loop on-ramp at Avenida Vista Hermosa and the northbound loop on-ramp at Camino de Estrella will be closed for up to nine days for realignment. Other interchange ramps will be closed on weekends for realignment.
Paving activities will soon begin along the northbound side of the freeway where it’s being widened between Avenida Vista Hermosa and Pacific Coast Highway. The southbound side will follow. After the paving is completed, work will begin on the sound walls along southbound I-5.
Find out more about the project and sign up for construction alerts here.
