Workers will close La Paz Road under the San Diego (5) Freeway in Mission Viejo and Laguna Hills Friday and Saturday as part of a freeway improvement project.

The work marks the first major demolition work as part of the freeway improvement project from Route 73 and El Toro Road, Orange County Transportation Authority officials say.

La Paz Road, a major thoroughfare in south county, will be closed between Cabot Road and Muirlands Boulevard from 10 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday.

Workers will also close the southbound and northbound loop on-ramps to the San Diego Freeway, and northbound lanes on the San Diego Freeway between Oso and Alicia parkways.

Workers will be demolishing part of the San Diego Freeway bridge over La Paz Road as part of a $581-million project to improve traffic flow from Route 73 to El Toro, which is scheduled to be completed by 2025.

La Paz will be open but reduced to one lane in each direction Monday through Thursday nights from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for further work, officials say.

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