Drivers Fear 'Corona Carmageddon' As Officials Consider Closing Stretch Of 91 Freeway For Weekend
CORONA (CBSLA.com) — As transportation officials consider closing 6 miles of the 91 Freeway for a weekend next month for construction, drivers fear the closure could create a massive headache.
"There's gonna be really bad traffic. Like, super bad," Corona resident Lilly Stephens said. "Even worse than it already is."
The closure would stretch from the 15 Freeway to the 71 Freeway in the Corona area.
It would start on the night of Feb. 19 and last through the morning of Feb. 22.
Officials could close all the lanes, or leave one or two open.
Crews would use that time to complete construction of a bridge at the Maple Street exit.
The proposal has already drawn comparisons to "Carmageddon" -- the weekend in 2011 when a 10-mile stretch of the 405 Freeway was closed in the Sepulveda Pass to allow crews to demolish a bridge. (Traffic was nonetheless remarkably light, as drivers heeded warnings to stay away.)
Still, some drivers who regularly traverse the major Orange County-to-Riverside County artery are fearing the worst if the closure takes place.
"Chaos," said one driver, Paul Stephens. "Total Chaos."
Officials will decide Wednesday on the proposed freeway closure.
