Closure will facilitate construction of new car pool lanes.

[view:node_ad=5]The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will
close the southbound Antelope Valley Freeway (State Route 14) off-ramp to Balboa
Boulevard beginning Thursday, February 19 for
approximately six months.

Warning and detour signs will be placed ahead of the closure. Caltrans is closing
the off-ramp to enable construction during the current stage of a new
$161-million High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or carpool lanes) and direct HOV lane
connector project at the I-5/SR-14 interchange.

This project involves the construction of an elevated two-lane direct HOV connector
at the Golden State Freeway (I-5) and State Route 14 interchange and construction
of HOV lanes in both the north and south direction of I-5 at the Interchange. A
direct HOV connector will allow motorists a freeway-to-freeway transfer without
exiting the carpool lane.

Construction of this direct HOV connector and HOV lanes will relieve congestion,
improve traffic flow, enhance safety and improve traffic operations of both
freeways at the I-5/14 Interchange. This important improvement project is
helping to provide motorists with a seamless carpool lane network in California.

This project is estimated to complete in the fall of 2012.