It may sound odd, but construction of curb cuts, new crosswalks and better pedestrian signals on surface streets will shut down four on-ramps and off-ramps along a wide swath of the 210 Freeway for a week starting Monday, July 31.
From July 31 through Friday, Aug. 4, motorists should be on the lookout for full closures of the following ramps: Sunland Boulevard in Sunland, and also Allen Avenue, Altadena Drive and Sierra Madre Boulevard (westbound on-ramps and off-ramps); San Gabriel Boulevard (eastbound on-ramps and off-ramps) in Pasadena, near the borders of Arcadia, San Marino and San Gabriel.
Unlike most Caltrans heavy construction usually done at night, this work will take place during daytime, resulting in closures of the on-ramps and exits and several lanes of auxiliary roads leading onto the 210 Freeway from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Caltrans reported on Friday. Surface streets intersecting with the on-ramps may be reduced to one lane or have one lane blocked, the transportation agency warned.
Caltrans says it will not close two consecutive exits or on-ramps. Motorists can usually drive past the closed exit or on-ramp and take the next nearest one, he said. Two off-ramps may be closed on the same day but not consecutive ones, in order to avoid congestion and frustration on the part of freeway drivers, according to Caltrans.
Flashing electronic message signs will inform freeway motorists which exits are closed, said Marc Bischoff, Caltrans spokesman on Friday. Sometimes, on an exit with two lanes, only one lane will be blocked off, while the exit remains open. But this could back up traffic on the often-jammed 210 at these off-ramps.
“We try to avoid closing full ramps as much as possible,” he said.
The work is part of a multi-year project that will improve nearby surface street crosswalks and add count-down pedestrian signals that communicate “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” signals that meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, said…
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