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BURBANK, Calif. () — Drivers traveling through Burbank are facing heavy delays this weekend as Caltrans begins a multi-million dollar repaving project on the northbound 5 Freeway.
The first of six extended weekend closures began Friday at 10 p.m., slowing traffic and bringing some vehicles to a stop along one of the region’s busiest corridors.
“Well, it’s going to be a lot of waiting time. Traffic is bad as it is,” driver Stephanie Chacon said.
Crews have reduced the northbound 5 Freeway to two lanes between Empire Avenue and Buena Vista Street. The closure also affects the connector from westbound State Route 134 to the northbound freeway. Caltrans says all northbound lanes along the same stretch will be fully closed between 1 a.m. on Sunday and 5 a.m. on Monday to allow workers to restripe the roadway.
For some commuters, particularly those working overnight shifts, the timing poses challenges.
“To me, the tough closure is going to be an issue since I work in the medical field. So I work late nights, emergency. So my issue is gonna be with me getting up there,” said Burbank resident Andrew Perdue.
Detour and closure signs have been posted near multiple on- and off-ramps to direct traffic around the work zone.
The 55-hour weekend closures are part of a $23 million rehabilitation project aimed at replacing damaged pavement on the freeway between Empire Avenue and Cohasset Street.
Perdue said he hopes the long-term improvements will help relieve congestion.
“If it makes it easier and we don’t have the backups and traffic jams, yeah, sounds great. But the short-term pain is going to be pretty painful,” he said.
Caltrans says the weekend closures will continue every weekend through Friday as crews work to complete the project.
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