San Diego drivers, brace yourselves for a hefty dose of weekend gridlock as Caltrans gets set to slam the brakes on parts of SR-54 and SR-163 for vital repairs and maintenance. According to Caltrans, starting from 9 p.m. Friday, they will totally shut down westbound lanes of State Route 54 at Reo Drive/Plaza Bonita Center Way until the early hours of Monday at 5 a.m. The move, aimed at tackling drainage system repairs and a gnarly road surface, means travelers must take the detour via Reo Drive.

For those eyeing Interstate 805, the detour will guide you onto Sweetwater Road to the I-805 Sweetwater Road on-ramp. And if you're wondering how to rejoin westbound SR-54, Sweetwater Road morphs into 30th Street before you hang a left on Highland Avenue and hit the westbound SR-54 on-ramp, as stated by NBC San Diego. Transit officials suggest seeking alternative routes over the weekend to skirt around delays.

Caltrans isn't stopping at SR-54. They've got their sights set on SR-163, too. All lanes of northbound SR-163 from Interstate 5 up to Interstate 8 will be a no-go zone from 3 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. San Diego's MTS (Metropolitan Transit Systems) bus service won't be left in the lurch—they'll receive an escort through the area during the closure.

On the Northbound I-5, the detour will funnel drivers to keep on the northbound I-5, switch to the eastbound I-8 ramp, and skirt onto northbound or southbound SR-163 connector ramps. Southbound I-5 motorists will have to jostle over to the Imperial Avenue off-ramp, double back to the northbound I-5, and then merge into the northbound I-5 detour, as detailed by NBC San Diego. Caltrans has warned that the construction schedule could be postponed due to weather, traffic incidents, or other construction-related reasons.

For those who must navigate this weekend's traffic tangle, real-time updates on the closures and alternate routes can be found on the Caltrans QuickMap website. Remember to check the latest on the lanes before leaving to avoid unwelcome surprises.