The Orange County Transportation Authority released this update regarding construction activity for the West County Connectors project.

EAST SEGMENT -- Valley View Street to Seal Beach Boulevard

Nighttime falsework (temporary bridge supports) construction on the Valley View Street bridge is ongoing and will continue for the next four to six weeks. In addition, crews will perform minor demolition activities at night on the southbound I-405 / eastbound SR-22 connector. In order to facilitate this work, the westbound SR-22 / northbound I-405 connector and the southbound I-405 / eastbound SR-22 connector will be closed nightly between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21 through Saturday, Feb. 25. Please be advised this work may be loud and disruptive due to truck activity, equipment noise and back-up alarms.

Daytime pile driving at the Valley View Street bridge is ongoing and will continue this week. This work is necessary as crews reconstruct the western half of the bridge. Pile driving is conducted weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please be advised this work may be loud and disruptive to the neighboring community due to vibration and pounding.

This week motorists traveling southbound on the I-405 freeway will notice the following changes:
The southbound I-405 to eastbound SR-22 connector was reduced from three lanes to two lanes. This configuration will remain over the next 12 months to allow crews to finish construction the new SR-22 / I-405 carpool connector.
The southbound I-405 Bolsa Chica Road off-ramp was relocated. In the past this off-ramp was accessible from the southbound I-405 / eastbound SR-22 connector. The southbound I-405 Bolsa Chica off-ramp is now accessible from the southbound I-405 freeway.
*OCTA and Caltrans encourage drivers to be alert when traveling through this area as it may take a few weeks for traffic patterns to normalize as drivers adjust to the new configuration.

Crews will begin construction along the northbound I-405 Seal Beach Boulevard off-ramp to create a barrier between the off-ramp and Lampson Avenue. This work is scheduled to begin in February or early-March and will take approximately two to three weeks to complete.

Paving activities are ongoing this week as crews place base material along the northbound and southbound I-405. While this work will be conducted during the day, there will be increased truck / equipment activity along the northbound and southbound I-405 between Valley View Street and Seal Beach Boulevard.

Roadway excavation along the eastbound SR-22 Valley View Street off-ramp is ongoing and will continue for the next few weeks.

WEST SEGMENT -- Seal Beach Boulevard to I-605

The southbound I-405 freeway will be closed between the I-605 freeway and Valley View Street, from 11 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21 until 5 a.m., Wednesday, Feb 22.
The southbound I-405 freeway will be closed between the I-605 freeway and Seal Beach Boulevard, between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., Friday night, Feb. 24 and Saturday night, Feb. 25. This work is necessary to allow crews to pour concrete for the stem and soffit portion of the 7th Street bridge. The soffit is the underside of the bridge and the stem is the center part of the bridge. Please be advised this night work may be loud and disruptive to the neighboring community due to truck activity, back-up alarms and equipment noise.

RECOMMENDED DETOURS:

From the southbound I-405, exit Studebaker Road - stay in the right lane and proceed south on Studebaker Road, turn left on Westminster Avenue:

To access the southbound I-405 freeway continue east on Westminster Avenue to access the southbound I-405 on-ramp
To access the eastbound SR-22 freeway continue east on Westminster Avenue and turn left on Goldenwest Street to access the eastbound SR-22 on-ramp
From the southbound I-605 freeway, take the Spring Street exit and turn right, proceed west on Spring Street and turn left on Studebaker Road, turn left on Westminster Avenue:

To access the southbound I-405 freeway continue east on Westminster Avenue to access the southbound I-405 on-ramp
To access the eastbound SR-22 freeway continue east on Westminster Avenue and turn left on Goldenwest Street to access the eastbound SR-22 on-ramp

Crews will close the northbound I-405 freeway between Seal Beach Boulevard and the I-605 freeway, from 11 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23 until 5 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24.
RECOMMENDED DETOURS:

From the northbound I-405, exit Westminster Avenue and turn left, proceed west on Westminster Avenue, then:

To access the northbound I-405 on-ramp, turn right on Studebaker Road and continue north
To access the I-605 freeway turn right on Seal Beach Boulevard, continue north on Seal Beach Boulevard / Los Alamitos Boulevard and turn left on Katella Avenue

Construction to rebuild the sound wall along the northbound I-405 and the northbound I-605 freeways (behind Martha Ann Drive in Rossmoor) will continue this week. While a majority of this work will be done during the day, portions will take place at night due to safety precautions. Residents affected by night work will be notified in advance as this work may be loud and disruptive to neighboring residents.

Reconstruction of the Bixby Channel and Montecito Channel (adjacent to Martha Ann Drive / Copa de Oro Drive and the I-405 / I-605 freeway), is ongoing and is scheduled for completion in mid-February 2012. This work will be done during the daytime and may be loud and disruptive to the neighboring community.

NEIGHBORING PROJECT UPDATES:

Los Alamitos

Work is underway on the Katella Avenue median project (near Chestnut Street). This work will be done during the daytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is expected to take four to six weeks to complete. For additional information, please contact Dave Hunt at (562) 431-3538 or via email at dhunt@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us.

Seal Beach

The city of Seal Beach's $1.3 million project to widen Seal Beach Boulevard between St. Cloud and North Gate Road is under way and is scheduled for completion in early 2012. Please be advised this project includes night and day work. Daytime work may include lane closures on Seal Beach Boulevard and will maintain at least two lanes in each direction at all times. For additional information, please contact Michael Ho - Seal Beach Public Works, at (562) 431-2527 ext. 1322 or via email at mho@sealbeachca.gov.