Community Corner

How Does a One-Lane Off-Ramp at Ortega Sound?

The southbound exit at Ortega and the I-5 in San Juan Capistrano is going to drop from three lanes to one. Find out for how long.

Just when we here in San Juan Capistrano have learned to live with the construction on the Ortega Highway bridge over the I-5 Freeway, it’s about to get worse.

Next week, workers will reduce – for the duration of the project – the number of lanes on the southbound off-ramp from three to one, according to Caltrans.

Currently, the off-ramp’s three lanes is set up with two dedicated left-turn lanes and one dedicated right-turn lane. The new configuration will provide only one lane to make both left and right-turns onto Ortega Highway, according to a notice from Caltrans.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Can you say backup?

“With the reduced lane configuration, the I-5/Ortega Highway team would like to remind everyone to plan ahead and allow extra time to commute to and from your destinations while in the construction area,” says the notice.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Not that you didn’t already know this, but Caltrans reminds us that alternate routes are available at Junipero Serra Road, Camino Capistrano, Rancho Viejo Road, La Novia Avenue and San Juan Creek Road. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here