Funding comes from a combination of OCTA’s local sales tax, state and federal funds, as well as 91 Express Lanes toll revenue
ORANGE – Local, state and federal officials gathered today to commemorate the launch of the SR-91 Improvement Project, a significant effort aimed at improving mobility, enhancing safety and overall traffic flow along one of Orange County’s busiest transportation corridors.
The transformative project between SR-57 and SR-55 will reduce congestion, improve travel times and provide safer conditions for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The $779 million project, led by the Orange County Transportation Authority in partnership with Caltrans, is designed to enhance connections between major freeways while modernizing key interchanges to reduce weaving and merging, as well as to rebuild major overcrossings to include new safety features, sidewalks and bike lanes.
“These improvements to SR-91 are essential to supporting the growing and evolving transportation needs of Orange County residents, commuters, and businesses,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, who is also Orange County’s Fourth District Supervisor. “This project will help reduce bottlenecks and create more reliable travel times for the thousands of drivers who rely on this corridor every day.”
The project will be implemented in three segments and is funded through OCTA’s Measure M half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, state funding including Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) – the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, federal funds that include Community Project Funding, and excess toll revenues from the 91 Express Lanes being reinvested to help everyone who travels through the area.
The project enhancements include:
Segment 1: SR-91/Lakeview Avenue Interchange
- Reconstructing the Lakeview Avenue overcrossing to include standard lanes, shoulders for bicyclists and sidewalks in each direction
- Realigning the westbound SR-91 on-ramp at Lakeview interchange
- Adding a new direct on-ramp from Lakeview Avenue to SR-55 to separate westbound SR-91 and southbound SR-55 traffic.
Segment 2: Between SR-55 and SR-57
- Adding a new eastbound general-purpose lane to improve traffic capacity
- Reconstructing Kramer Boulevard and Tustin Avenue overcrossings with enhanced safety features, including standard lanes, shoulders, sidewalks and bike lanes.
Segment 3: SR-91/SR-57 Interchange
- Improving the westbound SR-91 to northbound and southbound SR-57 connectors
- Adding an auxiliary lane from SR-57 to Raymond Avenue/East Street off-ramp to facilitate smoother traffic movement
- Reconstructing the La Palma Avenue overcrossing to include standard lanes, shoulders for bicyclists, and sidewalks
- Adding a bypass ramp for the northbound SR-57 Orangethorpe Avenue off-ramp prior to SR-91, eliminating the need to merge across multiple lanes at the interchange.
The improvements to all three segments are expected to be finished by early 2030.
A Major Step Toward Improved Mobility
Up to 321,000 vehicles travel on this stretch of SR-91 daily, and that number is expected to rise in the coming years. The planned improvements will help alleviate congestion and enhance safety and connectivity with neighboring communities, including the cities of Anaheim, Orange, Placentia, Fullerton and Yorba Linda.
“Caltrans is proud to partner with OCTA and our local cities on this pivotal initiative along one of Orange County’s most traveled corridors,” said Caltrans District 12 Director Lan Zhou. “By upgrading this critical transportation infrastructure, the project will reduce travel times and create a more accessible, efficient and safer roadway for all motorists. The 91 Improvement Project continues to expand multimodal travel options for Southern Californians, allowing for more secure and reliable routes for people who walk and bike.”
In addition to improving freeway operations, the project will modernize infrastructure to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists by incorporating wider ADA-accessible sidewalks and safety enhancements along reconstructed overcrossings.
“The SR-91 Improvement Project is part of OCTA’s ongoing mission to provide a balanced and sustainable transportation network,” said OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson. “We appreciate the community’s ongoing patience and support as we work toward delivering much-needed traffic relief and long-term transportation solutions.”
Visit build.ca.gov to learn about transformative infrastructure projects happening in communities throughout the state.
For more information on the project, visit www.octa.net/91improvements.
