Countywide : Freeway Expansion Will Block Access

Drivers on the Costa Mesa Freeway will find most of the connector exits to the Santa Ana Freeway blocked starting late tonight through Saturday to accommodate the Santa Ana Freeway expansion construction, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Connector ramps linking the northbound Costa Mesa Freeway to both the northbound and southbound Santa Ana Freeway will be closed, as will the connector between southbound Costa Mesa and the southbound Santa Ana.

The shutdown will begin at 11 tonight and last through 11 p.m. Saturday. Caltrans officials suggest motorists traveling northbound on the Costa Mesa Freeway seeking access to the Santa Ana Freeway exit at 17th Street, turn left and proceed to the Santa Ana Freeway entrance. Southbound Costa Mesa Freeway drivers wanting to get to the southbound Santa Ana should exit at Edinger Avenue, turn right and proceed to Red Hill Avenue. A left on Red Hill will lead to the entrance to the Santa Ana.

Also, the outside and middle lanes of the southbound Costa Mesa will be closed from 11 tonight through 8 a.m. Saturday, between the Main Street bridge and the McFadden Avenue off-ramp.

Freeway Closures Caltrans will close connectors between the Costa Mesa (55) and Santa Ana (5) freeways starting tonight as part of the Santa Ana Freeway widening project. The closures will allow workers to repave the connectors and realign the portable concrete barriers. Suggested alternate routes for transitions from one freeway to the other are along Edlinger / Red Hill Avenues, and 17th Street.