Community Corner

Ortega Highway to Remain Closed Until Rain Lets Up, Spokeswoman says

Sunday update:  Caltrans reports that the Ortega Highway reopened Sunday.

Saturday story as follows:

The two-lane Ortega (74) Highway connecting Riverside and Orange counties will remain closed Saturday night and will be closed until the rain subsides, a Caltrans spokeswoman said.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The closure went into effect about noon Friday.

The heavy rainfall that saturated slopes along the highway, and brought mud and debris to the lanes, kept officials from reopening it, Caltrans spokeswoman Shelli Lombardo told City News Service.

Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"As long as it rains, (the mud and debris) is going to keep coming," Lombardo said.

The closed 30-mile section of the highway that runs from Lake Elsinore to San Juan Capistrano is used by an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 motorists daily, according to the California Highway Patrol.

—City News Service.


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