Costa Mesa : Caltrans to Post Signs on Freeway During Fair

In order to alleviate traffic congestion during the upcoming County Fair, the California Department of Transportation has agreed to post flashing signs on the Costa Mesa and San Diego freeways, urging drivers to use the Fairview Road and Harbor Boulevard exits during fair weekends.

Fair spokeswoman Jill Lloyd said that in past years most of the traffic has come from cars pouring onto Newport Boulevard from the Costa Mesa Freeway. The signs, which will be in operation during the evening hours of July 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19, should help break up the congestion, she said.

Meanwhile, Lloyd said, steps have been taken to accommodate a crush of cars driven by people planning to attend a July 16 concert by the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. Fair officials have leased about 1,000 parking spaces at nearby Orange Coast College and about 200 more spaces at Costa Mesa High School, Lloyd said.

About 12,000 tickets have already been sold for the Beach Boys concert, which will be held at Pacific Amphitheatre, next to the fairgrounds, Lloyd said.