Countywide : Shutdown of Ramp Delayed by Rain

While rain usually means traffic nightmares, showers that hit the county Friday will give commuters a temporary reprieve from the shutdown of a major traffic artery.

One of the county’s worst bottlenecks--the Santa Ana-Costa Mesa freeway interchange--was to be closed today for work on the northbound Santa Ana Freeway connector to the southbound Costa Mesa Freeway.

However, state Department of Transportation officials said Friday that the ramp shutdown has been postponed because of the continuing showers. Caltrans was told by the construction contractor that the shutdown would be postponed at least until Monday.

When the work begins and the ramp is shut, motorists will be asked to take one of two alternative routes:

* Before reaching the interchange, northbound Santa Ana Freeway traffic can exit at Red Hill Avenue, proceed south on Red Hill to Edinger Avenue and then take Edinger west to the Costa Mesa Freeway.

* After driving through the interchange, exit the Santa Ana Freeway at 1st Street, take 1st Street east to Tustin Avenue, travel north on Tustin to 17th Street and then follow 17th Street east to the Costa Mesa Freeway.

Closing for Construction Rain postponed the scheduled two-year closure of the northbound Santa Ana Freeway connector to the southbound Costa Mesa Freeway. It and other closures will take effect when the weather permits. Other Closures All southbound Costa Mesa Freeway lanes at the Santa Ana Freeway, from 11 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday. All westbound Garden Grove Freeway lanes from Main Street to The City Drive, from 11 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday, repeated during the same hours Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.