Damage On Ortega Highway Nearly $1.7 Million; Closure Remains In Place

CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY ... There is expected to be access for all commuters by Aug. 20. 

The Falls Fire has closed the Ortega Highway indefinitely due to damage from the blaze. But construction work is likely to get scheduled this week following the award Wednesday of a $1.7 million contract for roadway repairs, a Caltrans official said.

Officials are meeting at 6 a.m. Thursday to discuss a timetable for the needed work, said Shellie Lombardo, spokeswoman for Caltrans District 8.

"We will have more of an idea [on the schedule] tomorrow," she said.

The fire is still burning and is not expected to be fully contained until Friday evening. Lombardo said that will impact how quickly repair work can begin.

"It can't start yet," she confirmed.

Meanwhile, the roadway remains closed between Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore and the South Main Divide on the Orange County side of the road, she said. The California Highway Patrol is providing access for mountain residents, but only during select hours with officer escort. Click here for more on that schedule.

Under Caltrans district director orders, Beador Construction was awarded the contract for the Ortega repairs, Lombardo said. The company is based in Corona.

The contract calls for the following repairs, according to Lombardo:

2,000 feet of striping
14,000 feet of guardrail
25 signs
15 sign posts
1,000 feet of asphalt diking 
150 reflective delineators
200 recessed reflective markers
 
The contract also covers minimal repairs along State Route 243. The roadway was damaged during the recent Mountain Fire that burned for 15 days east of Southwest Riverside County.

"Those repairs are very minimal," Lombardo said.

Check back Thursday for more information on the schedule for the Ortega Highway.