CONSTRUCTION ON FREEWAY TO SHUT ON-RAMP FOR WEEK.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

The northbound Sand Canyon Road on-ramp to the Antelope Valley Freeway will be closed until Jan. 31 while reconstruction work is performed, a Caltrans spokeswoman said Friday.

Margie Tiritilli said engineers will monitor the traffic signal at Sand Canyon Road to ensure that traffic flows as smoothly as possible during the closure. Adjustments may be made to allow for more green-light time in the area between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Tiritilli said, weather permitting, the off-ramp will reopen to traffic late next week before it once again closes during the first two weeks of February.

``The off-ramp will be closed 24 hours a day between Feb. 2 and Feb. 16,'' Tiritilli said.

However, she said, motorists will be able to get on the freeway at the Soledad Canyon on-ramp.

``The closure is temporary and detour signs have been posted to assist commuters around the closure area,'' Tiritilli said.

The ramps are being reworked to accommodate a four-lane bridge with sidewalks at the Sand Canyon overcrossing, Tiritilli said.

The project, which is being done through a $31 million contract awarded June 27, 1996, to Granada Hills-based FCI Constructors, includes freeway widening for car-pool lanes and is expected to be completed by the spring of 1999.