Ortega Highway To Reopen Ahead Of Schedule

Following several days of emergency repairs to fix damage on the Ortega Highway caused by the Falls Fire, the major state route is scheduled to reopen ahead of schedule, Caltrans announced Monday.

Construction work continues along the Ortega, between Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore and the South Main Divide in Orange County, but Caltrans said today that guardrail installation is finished five days earlier than estimated. 

"State Route 74 (Ortega Highway) will open tonight at 6 pm to all traffic until 8 am tomorrow morning. The route will be subject to one-way traffic control between 8 am and 4 pm to all commuters until the repairs are complete. Motorists are advised to add time to their commutes during the work hours. The road will open (unrestricted) between 4 pm and 8 am. [Tuesday]," the Caltrans announcement read.

Corona-based Beador Construction was awarded a $1.7-million contract to repair damage along the Ortega caused by the Falls Fire that broke out Aug. 5 and burned through Aug. 9. According to Caltrans District 8 spokeswoman Shelli Lombardo, the contract called for Beador to repair:

2,000 feet of striping
14,000 feet of guardrail
25 signs
15 signposts
1,000 feet of asphalt diking 
150 reflective delineators
200 recessed reflective markers

Beador crews have been working long shifts to make the repairs, and the California Highway Patrol has provided escort service to local residents impacted by the Ortega closure that began the day the Falls Fire broke out.

Effective Monday night at 6 p.m., as the Ortega reopens the CHP escort service ends.

Last week, it was estimated that the Ortega would not reopen until Aug. 20.

"Many thanks to Beador Construction and their sub-contractors for their efforts!" Caltrans said in the released announcement.

The Falls Fire broke out Aug. 5 around 10 a.m. in Morrell Canyon, just west of Lake Elsinore, and consumed 1,393 acres. It was declared fully contained at approximately 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9, according to Cal Fire.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.