I ride Ortega twice a day to and from work Monday - Friday. 8:00 am west bound and 5:00pm eastbound.
This is what I have seen this week.
Caltrans said it will be one lane in the construction zone for 3 years.
They close the road completely from
8:30pm - 4:30am
** there are lots of CHP out there now and not just in the construction area. I've seen people pulled over on both ends... BE AWARE. ****
There is always a CHP at the beginning
of the construction area. I have seen them on both sides.
They usually don't bother about lane sharing past stopped cars if you are going slow enough.
I wouldn't split in the construction zone. But I will pass on the MM 15 straight and a couple others, use your judgment.
I'm not assuming anyone is foolish, but one way traffic may still have construction vehicles in opposing lanes past the construction area.
Morning Westbound .... 8:00 am
I have found minimal ( 5 minutes) to no delays in the morning.
They have been moving the flag man, every day it's been different.
Expect stopped cars just past the long straight at MM 15, but the flag man has been as far back as a mile west of the Riverside county line.
Traffic slows to about 30 mph for a 4 mile section then back up to full speed.
I haven't seen any debris in the roadway from the construction. ( little rocks here and there from the hills with the rain)
5:00 pm eastbound.
The last few days I have seen traffic backed up for miles. I ride the center yellow and the shoulder to get to the front or close and jump in as they start moving.
Traffic tends to back up past the light at Nichols institute ( Quest) from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.
The flagman is just past the ranger station past the 2 long straights w passing lanes. Or he is at the narrow bridge at the start of the twisties.
Today at 4:00pm only about 20 cars backed up and I split to the front. CHP didn't seem to mind. I rode the right shoulder to the front.
Anyway the construction as of now is between MM 13 -14 OC side ( just past narrow bridge, as you enter the twisties)
Because of the construction delay I have yet to see traffic backed up at the decent into Elsinore at any of the normal rush hour places. ( but don't assume they wont be) ie; 75mph into a blind corner.
Hope this helps.
Ride and pass where safe.
This is what I have seen this week.
Caltrans said it will be one lane in the construction zone for 3 years.
They close the road completely from
8:30pm - 4:30am
** there are lots of CHP out there now and not just in the construction area. I've seen people pulled over on both ends... BE AWARE. ****
There is always a CHP at the beginning
of the construction area. I have seen them on both sides.
They usually don't bother about lane sharing past stopped cars if you are going slow enough.
I wouldn't split in the construction zone. But I will pass on the MM 15 straight and a couple others, use your judgment.
I'm not assuming anyone is foolish, but one way traffic may still have construction vehicles in opposing lanes past the construction area.
Morning Westbound .... 8:00 am
I have found minimal ( 5 minutes) to no delays in the morning.
They have been moving the flag man, every day it's been different.
Expect stopped cars just past the long straight at MM 15, but the flag man has been as far back as a mile west of the Riverside county line.
Traffic slows to about 30 mph for a 4 mile section then back up to full speed.
I haven't seen any debris in the roadway from the construction. ( little rocks here and there from the hills with the rain)
5:00 pm eastbound.
The last few days I have seen traffic backed up for miles. I ride the center yellow and the shoulder to get to the front or close and jump in as they start moving.
Traffic tends to back up past the light at Nichols institute ( Quest) from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.
The flagman is just past the ranger station past the 2 long straights w passing lanes. Or he is at the narrow bridge at the start of the twisties.
Today at 4:00pm only about 20 cars backed up and I split to the front. CHP didn't seem to mind. I rode the right shoulder to the front.
Anyway the construction as of now is between MM 13 -14 OC side ( just past narrow bridge, as you enter the twisties)
Because of the construction delay I have yet to see traffic backed up at the decent into Elsinore at any of the normal rush hour places. ( but don't assume they wont be) ie; 75mph into a blind corner.
Hope this helps.
Ride and pass where safe.