Freeway closures are set to affect local area

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Southbound I-405 to eastbound SR-22 freeway connector has been reconstructed to make room for the new SR-22/I-405 carpool connector and crews will close the existing southbound I-405/eastbound SR-22 connector for 55 hours beginning 10 p.m. on Friday, July 26. During the weekend closure traffic will be switched allowing commuters to travel on the new connector by 5 a.m. Monday, July 29.

Closed will be:

  • Southbound I-405 Connector to Eastbound SR-22 Freeway
  • Eastbound SR-22 Valley View Street off-ramp
  • Eastbound SR-22 Valley View Street on-ramp
  • Garden Grove Boulevard between Valley View Street and the northbound I-405

All routes that will be closed during the 55-hour closure. The southbound I-405 freeway will remain open, as well as Valley View Street and local freeway on- and off-ramps.

Once the new connector is open the old southbound I-405/eastbound SR-22 connector will be demolished the weekend of August 17 to 18. It will require a 20-hour full closure of the I-405 freeway.

Field crews are working diligently to adjust signal timing and improve traffic flow at Seal Beach Boulevard after southbound lanes on the bridge were adjusted to accommodate construction activities. Since the new Seal Beach Boulevard bridge will be twice the size of the original structure, crews must widen the roadway at the North Gate Road intersection. This temporary lane configuration will remain until the west half of the bridge reopens this fall and includes one dedicated left turn lane (to the southbound I-405 on-ramp) and one through lane with a right turn option to North Gate Road.

To minimize delay, motorists are encouraged to avoid the area during peak hours and use alternate routes whenever possible. The WCC team would like to extend their sincere thanks to the community for their patience. The team understands that construction is never a good neighbor and are exploring all options to improve traffic flow until the Seal Beach bridge is restored to two lanes in each direction once the west half opens this fall.

The stem and soffit concrete pours on the west half of the Seal Beach Boulevard bridge have been completed. These pours mark the first of several major milestones on the way to completing the west half of the bridge. The team is now preparing to pour the bridge deck (the roadway surface to eventually be driven on) later this month.

Intermittent daytime pile driving activity within the project area will be ongoing. Pile driving activity is typically conducted weekdays between approximately 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. however, it may occasionally extend beyond this time frame. In addition, some Saturday activity may be necessary. Please be advised this work may be loud or disruptive due to vibration and pounding.

Nightly full closures (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) of portions of the northbound and southbound I-405 are scheduled Monday through Friday. Visit www.octa.net/WCCDetourMap for a detailed closure schedule.

Caltrans will be making repairs to the 7th Street/eastbound SR-22 connector to the northbound I-605. The connector was damaged earlier this year when a piece of equipment fell on it causing damage to the structure. In addition, the 7th Street/eastbound SR-22 connector to the southbound I-405 also will be closed to accommodate the work. The connectors will be closed nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. For questions regarding this work, please contact the Caltrans Public Information Office at 949-724-2000. For more information regarding these activities, including recommended detour routes, visit www.octa.net/BridgeDemo.