BURBANK—A construction project to demolish the Burbank Boulevard overpass bridge will shut down the 5 freeway for the weekend, causing motorists to seek alternate routes.
The California Department of Transportation indicated on Monday, March 2 that the exact date of the 5 Freeway shutdown was announced at a news conference on Thursday, March 5. The closure will last for 36 hours, starting on a Saturday, March 14 and running through 5 a.m. on Monday, March 17, Caltrans noted. The 5 Freeway closure will be the biggest in the Los Angeles metro area since the 2011 “Carmageddon,” which shut down the 405 Freeway for construction as well.
In order to prepare for the freeway shutdown, starting on March 14, the Burbank Boulevard bridge will be permanently closed between Front Street and the San Fernando Boulevard through mid-2021.
The bridge is being demolished and replaced with a wider, longer one, Caltrans reported. During the closure, drivers will need to use one of 9 other 5 Freeway crossings in Burbank.
In addition to replacing the bridge, carpool lanes will be added to the 5 Freeway. The work is part of an ongoing $355 million project in the area to improve traffic and safety on the 5 Freeway corridor.
