Road closes for project

Those driving down the 55 Freeway to Newport-Mesa after dark may have noticed that where the freeway ends at Newport Boulevard part of the southbound side of the road is cordoned off with cones.

The closure is the beginning of what is expected to be a six-month-long project to widen both sides of the major arterial to more effectively deal with high traffic. Pavement will be torn up on the southbound side in a couple of weeks, said Public Services Director Peter Naghavi.

“The timing depends a lot on underground issues that may happen, weather and contractor situations, but we are shooting for completion by early summer so we can avoid beach traffic,” Naghavi said.

Most of the construction for the project will be done from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., when there aren’t many cars traveling through, but some of the later phases may cause delays.

A new southbound lane will be added to Newport Boulevard from 17th Street to the freeway. A shorter northbound lane will be added from Triangle Square to the freeway.

The southbound portion will be done first, and then the northbound portion will begin.

Traffic potentially could stall the most during times where multiple lanes are closed at the same time. For instance, adding the northbound lane will require the concrete median to be moved toward Triangle Square, which will require lanes on both sides to be closed.

If traffic becomes heavier due to the construction, a few alternate routes are available. Eastside and Newport Beach residents can bypass the traffic by taking Irvine Avenue, which parallels Newport Boulevard to the East.

Those traveling to and from the Westside and Mesa Verde can take Placentia Avenue.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.