Mini Carmageddon? Major Two-Week Connector Closure Starts

Starting Monday, the connector road from the southbound San Gabriel River (605) Freeway to the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway will close for about two weeks to accommodate improvements along the stretch.

The connector road will be rebuilt, and a carpool lane will be added, according to Caltrans, which is overseeing the $277 million West County Connector Project.

Drivers will be able to exit the 605 and take surface streets through Long Beach, Rossmoor and Seal Beach to reach the 405, or they can exit at Katella Avenue, go right on Los Alamitos Boulevard/Seal Beach Boulevard to get the the southbound 405.

Motorists can also exit at Spring Street in Long Beach and go left on Woodruff Avenue to reach the southbound 405.

Overnight Sunday through Thursday, drivers were urged to exit the 605 at Willow, turn left on Studebaker, left on East Second Street/Westminster Avenue, then left at Seal Beach Boulevard to reach the 405 south.

The overall project, aimed at improving the flow of traffic on the two north-south freeways as well as the east-west Garden Grove (22) Freeway, is scheduled for completion in 2014.

- City News Service