Southbound drivers will have to make alternative arrangements for driving into San Diego along Interstate 5 beginning Friday night and lasting through the weekend, state transportation officials say.
The popular freeway will be closed heading south from state Route 52 to Mission Bay Drive beginning at 9 p.m. and remain closed to traffic through 5 a.m. Monday as part of an ongoing road improvement program, Caltrans said.
“The project will rehabilitate pavement along the main roadway, shoulders and freeway ramps to extend the service life of the existing pavement,” state transportation officials said in a statement.
“Beyond resurfacing, the project incorporates a broad range of upgrades to improve performance, safety and environmental conservation,” they added.
The weekend-long shutdown will not affect northbound traffic. Southbound service along Metropolitan Transit System bus routes will continue uninterrupted, as will trolley service in the area.
Caltrans advised southbound drivers to take Interstate 805 at Sorrento Valley and connect to state Route 163 to access Interstate 8 and then Interstate 5.
Drivers who need to drive south of the Interstate 5-805 interchange in Sorrento Valley will be able to both exit and enter Interstate 5 at Genesee Avenue, westbound La Jolla Village Drive and Nobel Drive, Caltrans said.
The improvement effort is part of the I-5 Asset Management Project, a Caltrans plan to reduce future maintenance needs between Villa De La Valle in north San Diego south to National City and Chula Vista.
Caltrans said the total project cost is just under $114 million, with almost $103 million of that coming from the U.S. government. The balance of the spending is from state funds.
Construction hours are subject to change due to weather, traffic conditions or other factors, Caltrans said. Officials urged drivers to track the closure in real time at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.