SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – Ortega Highway, the historic and crucial link between Orange and Riverside counties, was closed Wednesday afternoon for an undetermined period after suffering what one Caltrans official called “substantial storm damage.”

The move leaves the congested 91 freeway as the only practical pathway between the regions.

UPDATE: Emergency service coverage should be uninterrupted for residents impacted by temporary Ortega Highway closure

Those heading east on Ortega can only get as far as Antonio Parkway, three miles from the I-5 freeway. On the other end, Highway 74 is closed at Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore. Those who live along Ortega were allowed beyond the barricades.

“We know it’s an inconvenience for commuters, but we’ve got to make sure the road is safe,” said Jocelyn Whitfield, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

The troubled part of the rural roadway is east of Antonio Parkway.

Because of the recent storms, Ortega is now sagging in a stretch, which was noticed Wednesday. Geo-technical engineers for Caltrans, after getting a report that the road seemed to be dipping, were inspecting the roadway when they discovered large cracks in the eastbound lanes, Whitfield said.

Caltrans needs to deeply assess the damage before determine when Ortega can re-open.

Over five days ending Monday, three storms dropped 5.6 inches of rainwater onto the area, according to the National Weather Service. Nearly 12 inches have fallen there this month.

The 8,000-acre Caspers Wilderness Park, an Orange County-operated swath along Ortega, was shut as well until the highway re-opens.

The historic highway originated in the 1920s and now stretches 32 miles over the Santa Ana Mountains.

For years there had been discussions to widen Ortega beyond largely one lane in each direction, but the proposal was scrapped a year ago after locals complained that would attract more development and vehicles.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or jsudock@scng.com