Photo of demolition sourtesy of OCTA.

While nighttime commuters from Long Beach and North Orange County struggled with traffic resulting from full freeway closures on the I-405 this weekend, Orange County Transportation Authority crews worked to begin demolition activity on the Seal Beach Blvd. bridge.

OCTA says that about 20 construction workers worked 20 hours over two shifts Friday and Saturday to demolish the west half of the bridge, which has now been reduced to one lane in each direction. The new structure is scheduled to be completed in mid-2014 and will have four northbound lanes and three southbound lanes, essentially doubling the size of the original structure. 

Though not inciting nearly as much “Carmageddon” hype as the 405 closure occurring 30 miles to the north, both the northbound and southbound lanes of the 405 were closed Friday night between Seal Beach Blvd. and the I-605 to accommodate the construction, causing late-night traffic into Long Beach in all directions.

Nightly closures will continue this week (12AM to 5AM) and into this weekend on the southbound 405 as well as on all connectors that lead to that area in order to allow crews to demolish the remaining portions of the bridge.