Briefly in the news

A routine Caltrans maintenance project at the start of the northbound

Costa Mesa Freeway caused traffic backups on Newport Boulevard on Tuesday

and Wednesday.

The ramp was closed fro approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, and

traffic on northbound Newport Boulevard was detoured through Harbor

Boulevard.

According to Caltrans officials, it was routine maintenance work that

involves replacing the asphalt on the onramp.

“This is something we do from time to time,” said Sandy Friedman,

spokeswoman for Caltrans.

There will be no other similar closures in Costa Mesa in the near

future, officials said. Work on Wednesday was expected to end between 2

and 3 p.m., Friedman said.

For more information regarding road closures, call the Caltrans

Hotline at (800)724-0353.