5/1/2013
$64 million project will add a 4-mile westbound lane between SR-57 and I-5OCTA board will allocate nearly $50 million for projects throughout the countyThe Public Will Have Two Opportunities to Learn About Upcoming I-5 Improvements
May 1, 2013
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority and Caltrans broke ground on a project that will widen a 4-mile stretch of freeway along the westbound Riverside Freeway (SR-91) between the Orange Freeway (SR-57) and Santa Ana Freeway (I-5).
The $64 million project is the third segment in a series of improvements that has added 18 new miles of lanes to the SR-91 since December 2010.
“The 91 freeway is a vital piece of our transportation network in Orange County,” said OCTA Vice Chairman Shawn Nelson, also the 4th District Supervisor. “This is a great day for the taxpayers of Orange County and for the voters who approved Measure M2 as we begin delivering on one more of our promises.”
The project is funded with $32 million from Measure M2, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Orange County and $32 million in state dollars. Anticipated to be completed in 2015, the project will add a new westbound lane, widen six bridges and reconfigure on- and off-ramps to improve entering and exiting the freeway.
“This project will bring us closer to our goal of reducing congestion and increasing safety for Orange County motorists,” said Caltrans District 12 Director Ryan Chamberlain.
More than 130,000 vehicles travel along the SR-91 between the SR-57 and I-5 every day and that number is expected to increase more than 20 percent by 2016.
OCTA and Caltrans previously completed two segments along the SR-91. The first, which was completed in December 2010, added a new eastbound lane between the Eastern Toll Road (SR-241) and Corona Freeway (SR-71).
A project also was completed in February 2013 that added a new lane in each direction between the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) and SR-241.
For more information and to sign up to receive construction alerts, the public can visit www.octa.net/better91.
The $64 million project is the third segment in a series of improvements that has added 18 new miles of lanes to the SR-91 since December 2010.
“The 91 freeway is a vital piece of our transportation network in Orange County,” said OCTA Vice Chairman Shawn Nelson, also the 4th District Supervisor. “This is a great day for the taxpayers of Orange County and for the voters who approved Measure M2 as we begin delivering on one more of our promises.”
The project is funded with $32 million from Measure M2, the half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Orange County and $32 million in state dollars. Anticipated to be completed in 2015, the project will add a new westbound lane, widen six bridges and reconfigure on- and off-ramps to improve entering and exiting the freeway.
“This project will bring us closer to our goal of reducing congestion and increasing safety for Orange County motorists,” said Caltrans District 12 Director Ryan Chamberlain.
More than 130,000 vehicles travel along the SR-91 between the SR-57 and I-5 every day and that number is expected to increase more than 20 percent by 2016.
OCTA and Caltrans previously completed two segments along the SR-91. The first, which was completed in December 2010, added a new eastbound lane between the Eastern Toll Road (SR-241) and Corona Freeway (SR-71).
A project also was completed in February 2013 that added a new lane in each direction between the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) and SR-241.
For more information and to sign up to receive construction alerts, the public can visit www.octa.net/better91.
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