Public will have an opportunity to comment on the environmental document
Jan. 17, 2011
ORANGE – Preliminary work is under way to extend the carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway (I-5) between Avenida Pico in San Clemente and San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano and officials are asking the public for input regarding the project’s environmental impacts.
In addition to adding a carpool lane in each direction, the project would provide new merging lanes to relieve traffic at three locations and improve the Avenida Pico interchange.
Community members are invited to attend an open house to learn about the project and provide comments on the draft environmental document.
The meeting will be held between 6 and 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 31, at the San Clemente Community Development Office, Second Floor, 910 Calle Negocio in San Clemente.
The I-5 carries about 242,000 vehicles per day near the Camino Capistrano interchange and future projections estimate that number to rise to 300,000, an increase of nearly 25 percent.
The improvements will provide a crucial link in Orange County’s carpool lane network and help minimize weaving between traffic lanes where the current carpool lanes end and maintain travel speed for carpool users.
The $225 million project is funded by Measure M2, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. Pending environmental approval, construction is anticipated to begin in 2015.
For more information, visit www.octa.net/I-5HOV or contact Tresa Oliveri at (714) 560-5374 or toliveri@octa.net .
