91 Freeway eastbound closure causes major weekend traffic headaches for drivers heading from Orange County to Inland Empire

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) — Drivers heading from Orange County to the Inland Empire this weekend ran into a major traffic headache.

The eastbound 91 Freeway was down to just three lanes near Corona, leaving drivers dealing with serious delays. The closure is all part of a construction project in the area between Anaheim Hills and Corona.

While traffic seemed to be flowing early Sunday morning, major delays impacted drivers on Saturday evening.

Some drivers told Eyewitness News they were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours.

With just three lanes open, drivers tried everything to cut through. Some exited the freeway early just to hit even more traffic on side streets. Video from the area also shows some driving through a fence to bypass the traffic as desperation mounted during the gridlock.

Caltrans has reduced the already-busy seven-lane eastbound 91 Freeway to just three lanes between the 241 and Green River Road. It’s all part of a 55-hour planned closure to replace a culvert, which helps drain water underneath the freeway.

Some drivers reported fewer than three lanes being open at times, despite what Caltrans told motorists to expect.

The closure first began on Friday night.

The freeway traffic spilled onto surface streets in nearby neighborhoods on Saturday as drivers tried to find other ways around.

“They closed the express lane that people are paying for, the FasTrak,” said Christian Evans of Eastvale. “So if we’re going to be paying for that out of pocket and we can’t even use that freeway, that’s a shame.”

“It’s aggravating and frustrating,” said Jetino Marks from Corona. “Because there’s no other way of going around it. We looked at alternate routes, and no matter what we tried, there’s only one route. You can only go one way.”

One of the many people impacted by the traffic delays was Mexican singer Jorge Medina, who was trying to get to the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland.

What should have been a 1-hour trip turned into a 7-hour traffic nightmare.

Medina documented the hourslong ordeal to get around the road closures on social media.

Without any time to spare or get ready in his dressing room, he went straight to the stage and gave fans a show in what appeared to be his pajamas.

Caltrans suggests drivers use the 57 Freeway to the 60 or Carbon Canyon as an alternate route.

The closure ended at 5 a.m. on Monday, but the same restrictions return next weekend, so residents are encouraged to plan ahead.