By Cal State Long Beach commuters had trouble getting to school Tuesday morning as construction began on the northbound I-405/westbound SR-22 Seventh Street connector.
Construction on the connector began Monday night and is expected to last until April 2012.
The Orange County Transportation Authority had suggested four detour options, but two, which involve exiting onto Palo Verde, were blocked by a traffic accident near the northbound I-405 exit.
“Usually I get off on Palo Verde, but because of the accident I was late for class,” junior English major Esteban Miranda said.
Like Miranda, many students complained of a large increase in commute time.
“It was horrible,” said Kimmy Wasinger, film major. “It takes me 30 minutes to get to class instead of 10.”
The connector closure also affected class attendance, according to Lauren Putnam, a junior and member of the Sigma Kappa soriority.
“Half of my class was missing this morning because of traffic,” Putnam said.
The overall sentiment of commuters was not good.
“It was a miserable experience,” said Ulysses Martinez, junior industrial design major.
However, some commuters were able to avoid traffic by following detours suggested by OCTA.
“I got off early on Studebaker and avoided traffic. There are ways around it,” said Amy Chan, anthropology major.
Adding to traffic congestion, authorities arrested a 19-year-old murder suspect at the Motel 6 near the intersections of Seventh Street, Bellfolower Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, the Daily Breeze reported.
The murder occurred at 12:20 am and police apprehended suspect Victor Ayala later that morning.
“We got the call about a quarter after 4 a.m. to help contain the area,” Long Beac Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Massacani said. “We cleared the scene about 9 a.m.”
Students and faculty affected by the closure can check online for detour information at octa.net/westcounty.
Students should also check sigalert.com/map.asp for updates on accidents to avoid traffic delays.
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