First there was Carmageddon. Then came Coronageddon.

Now transportation officials are rolling out another nightmarish closure of a Southern California freeway they have dubbed “60 Swarm.”

In one sense, the 12-mile closure of the 60 Freeway in Riverside and Jurupa Valley will be 15 times worse than the shutdowns of the 405 and 91 freeways.

Those lasted one weekend. The 60 Swarm will spread across no fewer than 15 weekends starting Friday, July 26, and ending just before Thanksgiving.

“Travel around the project will be difficult,” California Highway Patrol Capt. John Tyler said Tuesday, July 23. “You will experience long delays. Avoid the area altogether if possible.”

Traffic moves Tuesday, July 23, on the westbound 60 Freeway, just west of the 15 Freeway in Ontario. The 60 Swarm, a project that includes 15 all-weekend closures of the freeway between the 15 and 215 freeways starts Friday night, July 26. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A sign warns drivers on the eastbound 60 Freeway towards the 15 Freeway that a 12-mile stretch of the eastbound 60 will be closing for weekend construction work in what’s being called the 60 Swarm project. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

On Tuesday July 23, electronic signs alert drivers on the eastbound 60 Freeway that the 60 Swarm project will begin Friday, July 26. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The 15 all-weekend closures of the 60 Freeway in one direction between the 15 and 215 freeways starts Friday night, July 26, with the closure of the eastbound 60, left. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Patches are seen Tuesday, July 23, along a 12-mile stretch of the eastbound 60 Freeway near the Country Village Road exit in Jurupa Valley. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)



The 60 Swarm, a project that includes 15 all-weekend closures of the freeway between the 15 and 215 freeways, starts Friday night, July 26. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

In another sense, the 60 closure won’t be as bad. All lanes will close in one particular direction — but, unlike the previous projects, the other side of the freeway will remain open.

Information: 833-60SWARM or www.60swarm.com

As the traffic crunch approaches, here are nine things to know about the 60 Swarm:

1. Eastbound shutdowns

All eastbound lanes will close every weekend from Friday, July 26, through Sept. 23 (except Labor Day weekend). Avoid at all costs the eastbound 60 between the 15 Freeway in Jurupa Valley and the 60/91/215 interchange in Riverside all weekend long — from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

2. There are closures going west, too

All westbound lanes will close every weekend from Sept. 27 through Nov. 18 (except Veterans Day weekend). Stay away from the westbound 60 between the 60/91/215 and 15 Freeway from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

3. Pick another route

Your life won’t stop this summer. You’ll cool off at the beach, attend shows in L.A. and watch the Dodgers try to go to a third straight World Series. But when you turn around and head east, stay off the 60. Take the 91, 10 or 210 freeways instead.

4. Give yourself more time

It won’t be smooth sailing on those other freeways. Count on weekend trips taking 30 to 60 minutes longer than usual, Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said. For obvious reasons. You’ll have company.

5. Your pain, some gain

With the debut of Carmageddon in July 2011, when a 10-mile stretch of the 405 shut in Los Angeles, officials learned they could accelerate projects that usually dragged on for years. And they found most people heed their warnings to steer clear of the construction area.

“We are able to expedite some of the work, and there is a little bit of a cost savings,” Kasinga said.

6. 60 problem is 60 years in the making

On some stretches of the 60 Freeway, the road is riddled with cracks. Caltrans transportation engineer Elaheh Hadipour said the pavement is 60 years old. And it has been taking a beating from the truck traffic flooding out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

So, said Joe McLoughlin, owner of J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga, the contractor on the job, workers will replace the existing 9-inch-thick pavement with concrete 15 to 16 inches thick.

“We’re going to try to do a mile of new concrete per weekend,” he said.

7. Can I still travel to the area?

Yes, you can reach retail outlets, restaurants and friends’ homes along the 60 by driving the other side of the freeway. For example, officials said, while the eastbound side is shut, all westbound lanes will remain open through the weekend.

8. Is there more to the Swarm?

Yes. Also planned are nighttime lane closures throughout the week — lasting much longer, through fall 2021 — on a wider stretch of the 60, from Euclid Avenue to the 60-91-215 interchange. Also, Caltrans is replacing bridges at Pipeline Avenue, Monte Vista Avenue and Benson Avenue in Chino. Those projects started Monday night, July 22.

9. Soundtracks for gridlock

What if you get stuck on the 60 or hit congestion on an alternate freeway? Relax, slow down and try one of these driving-themed playlists:

Songs for the road

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TLoBSpbCGC8LxZdIDtz2U

Slow Jams

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7CmyYTF4D0GOATxUVWIuzh

Jam bands

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7sMtsIKUnC0Xfg62ukHbNt

Traffic

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5seSzY2BINlvtLA0SgDQI1

The Cars

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1XN9ddtzXeqQ6JCbSNNfau