The California Department of Transportation will conduct 10 weekends of 53-hour extended closures and full freeway closures on the Long Beach Freeway (I-710) beginning August 5.


The closures are part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the Glenn Anderson Freeway (I-105) connector to Atlantic Boulevard in the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, South Gate and Downey.

Extended weekend closures are scheduled for the following weekends:
* August: 5-8; 12-15; 19-22; 26-29
* September: 9-12; 16-19; 23-26; 30-October 3 (No construction Sept.2-5, Labor Day)
* October: 7-10; 14-17

Full freeway closures will occur in both directions and twice during each weekend on:
* Friday at 11:59 p.m. until Saturday at 6 a.m.
* And again on Sunday at 11 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m.

Each extended weekend closure begins on Friday night at midnight with a six-hour (12:01 to 6 am) full freeway closure to install moveable median barriers.

When the freeway re-opens to traffic on Saturday at 6 a.m., the median barriers will guide all motorists to shift to the northbound side of the freeway. This allows construction crews to work on southbound I-710 and motorists to continue their commutes throughout the weekend using a reduced number of available lanes.

Then, on Sunday at 11 p.m., anther full freeway closure will be in place to remove the temporary moveable median barrier in time for the Monday morning commute.

The following ramps and connectors will be closed throughout each weekend:

* Closed on-ramps to northbound I-710: Eastbound & westbound on-ramps from Imperial Highway, Firestone Blvd. and Florence Ave.

* Closed on-ramps to southbound I-710: Eastbound & westbound on-ramps from Atlantic Blvd., Florence Ave. and Firestone Boulevard

* Closed off-ramps from southbound I-710: Eastbound & westbound off-ramps at Florence Ave. and Firestone Boulevard

* Closed Freeway Connectors: Eastbound & westbound I-105 to northbound I-710

Speed limits will be reduced to 4 5mph. No oversized loads permitted due to narrow lanes. Motorists can also expect delays. Use alternate routes and marked detours.

Closures are weather-permitting and are subject to change.

The work is part of the I-710 Long Life Pavement Project from Firestone Boulevard to Atlantic Boulevard to rehabilitate aging pavement and provide the roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public.