Rains delay construction on Red Hill overpass

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- Drivers dreading detours during construction on Red Hill

Avenue have been saved by the rain. For now.

Construction crews postponed closing the street to traffic where it

crosses the San Diego Freeway (405) until March 19, said Peter Naghavi,

the city’s director of transportation. They were scheduled to begin

tearing it down Wednesday.

The closure is part of a $150-million effort by the city, county and the

California Department of Transportation to link 120 miles of carpool

lanes throughout the county.

The portion of Red Hill Avenue will be closed while the crews will link

the carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway with those on the Costa Mesa

Freeway (55).

In addition to allowing a carpool lane, the new bridge also will include

space for bicycle commuters.

During the nine months of construction on Red Hill, drivers will be

forced to wind though five nearby streets. Naghavi said he expects the

worst traffic delays to be during rush hour.

The entire carpool lane connection should be completed by 2004, Naghavi

said.