91 Freeway between OC, Riverside County may be closed for entire weekend

CORONA, Calif. (KABC) -- Traffic between Orange and Riverside counties already crawls on a good day, but next month, it could come to a grinding halt -- at least for a weekend.

The shutdown of the 91 would stretch six miles from State Route 71 to Interstate 15 in Corona.

The closure is needed for the 91 freeway expansion project. It would give construction crews the time to build a new Maple Street bridge, which will span the 91 Freeway.

The Riverside Transportation Commission is in charge of the project.

The Feb. 19 to 22 weekend closure is not set in stone yet. Another possibility includes closing the freeway at night over 10 weekends.

A full major freeway closure has happened before. In 2011, the 405 shut down without much of a problem. "Carmageddon" was not a traffic disaster, as many drivers stayed home.

Still, Corona residents fear this time could be the real Carmageddon.