91 Freeway eastbound closure causes major weekend traffic headaches for drivers heading from Orange County to Inland Empire

The same construction project is scheduled to impact traffic again next weekend.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- There's a major traffic headache for drivers heading from Orange County to the Inland Empire this weekend.

The eastbound 91 Freeway is down to just three lanes near Corona, leaving drivers dealing with serious delays.

The closure is all part of a construction project in the area between Anaheim Hills and Corona.

While traffic seemed to be flowing early Sunday morning, major delays impacted drivers on Saturday evening.

Some drivers told Eyewitness News they were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours. More extended delays were expected during peak travel times on Sunday.

Caltrans has reduced the already-busy seven-lane eastbound 91 Freeway to just three lanes between the 241 and Green River Road. It's all part of a 55-hour planned closure to replace a culvert, which helps drain water underneath the freeway.

Some drivers reported fewer than three lanes being open at times, despite what Caltrans told motorists to expect.

The closure first began on Friday night.

The freeway traffic spilled onto surface streets in nearby neighborhoods on Saturday as drivers tried to find other ways around.

"They closed the express lane that people are paying for, the FasTrak," said Christian Evans of Eastvale. "So if we're going to be paying for that out of pocket and we can't even use that freeway, that's a shame."

"It's aggravating and frustrating," said Jetino Marks from Corona. "Because there's no other way of going around it. We looked at alternate routes, and no matter what we tried, there's only one route. You can only go one way."

Caltrans suggests drivers use the 57 Freeway to the 60 or Carbon Canyon as an alternate route.

The closure ends at 5 a.m. on Monday, but the same restrictions return next weekend, so residents are encouraged to plan ahead.