Lake Forest Drive Repave Delayed

Plan to see orange traffic cones signaling lane closures along Lake Forest Drive later than originally expected.

Repaving the main thoroughfare from Rockfield to Muirlands boulevards was pushed back by three weeks from July 5, its original expected start date, according to Lake Forest's public works manager, Luis Estevez.

The proximity of the northbound 5 freeway to Lake Forest Drive means that the contractor is required to set up traffic cones and other traffic control devices on the highway off-ramp, activity which requires a permit.

"It will take a few weeks to get that permit from Caltrans," Estevez said.

Repaving will take about five days, though the majority of the work will take place in the first two days, he said. 

After repaving concludes, there will still be some work left to do.

All of the utility covers and manholes will need to be raised to the finished surface grade and traffic detectors, pavement striping, legends and markings will need to be replaced. 

Estevez said that that work requires less intrusive traffic control measures so the traffic congestion should let up noticeably.

On the bright side, the median construction currently taking place on Lake Forest Drive should wrap up Friday, allowing the blocked-off lane to reopen.

"The median curbs are almost finished and they have started installing the new rock cobble," Estevez said.

Coming up next in a series of summer street revamps is a series of repaving projects scheduled to begin Aug. 2.

Stretches of main Lake Forest roads are getting a new surface, though that work will take place at night.

Rockfield Boulevard between Lake Forest Drive and the Irvine city limit, Lake Forest Drive between Portola Parkway and Rancho Parkway and Bake Parkway between Portola Parkway and Rancho Parkway are all scheduled to get repaved.