Smith-Enke Roadblocks Reshuffle Today, Will Last Months

Drivers this morning got a taste of what to expect with traffic at the city’s busiest intersection for the next several months.

Lane restrictions that had for months blocked several outside lanes of the John Wayne Parkway and Smith-Enke Road intersection were reopened at 5 a.m., but at the expense of the inside lanes being closed.

The project will “increase the intersection’s capacity to handle higher traffic volumes,” according to a city statement. It includes a new shopping inlet to the CVS Pharmacy parking lot, and an additional eastbound left turn lane from Smith-Enke onto JWP.

Traffic at 1 p.m. today was heavily congested in all four directions.

Here’s what restrictions to expect as crews work on the new raised medians:

Northbound JWP: The inner left turn lane and righthand lane going straight are closed going into the intersection. The roadway is open completely north of the intersection.

Southbound JWP: The inner left turn lane and right turn lane are closed. The third lane acts as a right turn lane.

Eastbound Smith-Enke: The two left turn lanes are closed, and the center lane is acting as a forward/left lane west of the intersection. Eastbound traffic north of the intersection remains down to one lane, with the open one being the newly paved right lane. There is no access to the CVS parking lot from this direction.

Westbound Smith-Enke: Drivers turning right onto John Wayne Parkway are using the new free-flow lane. One lane is open to turn left and go straight through the intersection. The entrance to the CVS parking lot is open at the new inlet, but the old entrance is closed.

Designated detours to avoid the Smith-Enke roadwork include drivers from the east side of the construction using Honeycutt Road to John Wayne Parkway, according to city spokesperson Monica Williams.

Drivers looking to connect to or from State Route 238 are suggested to use Edison Road as a bypass.

“These restrictions are expected to remain in place until about February,” Williams said. “That’s when crews will finish paving the intersection and wrap up any final touches on this improvement project.”