Downed electrical wire prompts closure of multiple freeway ramps to 7th Street • Long Beach Post News

Sep 03, 2023

The 405 Community Outreach Team, which is part of the Orange County Transportation Authority, is advising drivers to use alternate freeway routes to Seventh Street in Long Beach after a fallen electrical wire prompted the closure of multiple connector ramps to the area, officials said.

OCTA announced on Wednesday that the northbound 405 Freeway, southbound 405, southbound 605 Freeway and the Old Ranch Parkway connector ramps to Seventh Street would be closed to address a downed wire issue. Another connector, the eastbound State Route 22 between Studebaker Road and the southbound 405 connector will also be closed, according to OCTA.

Megan Abba, a spokesperson for OCTA, said the emergency closures were needed to allow Southern California Edison to repair the electrical pole. Abba said shortly before 2 p.m. that the agency expected the lanes to reopen in approximately eight hours.

Due to a fallen electrical wire, the following connectors are closed:NB/SB I-405 to 7th StSB I-605 to 7th StOld Ranch Pkwy to 7th StEB SR-22, between Studebaker Rd & SB I-405 connectorPlease use alternate routes. An update will be provided when all ramps & lanes reopen. pic.twitter.com/2HkvFySH8o

The closure comes as OCTA, in cooperation with Caltrans, continues construction on the I-405 Improvement Project, which would, among other upgrades, see the 405 Freeway between State Route 73 and the 605 Freeway get an express lane.

This story is developing and will be updated.