2011 Freeway Highlights

Interstate 5
The last major freeway project under M1, the I-5 Gateway Project, was completed as the final link to the ambitious freeway improvement program that delivered more than 30 major freeway projects. The four-year project widened the remaining two miles of the I-5 through Buena Park up to the Los Angeles County line.

Three environmental studies were under way on the I-5, including adding a carpool lane in both directions between State Route 55 (SR-55) and SR-57 (M2 – Project A). In south county, OCTA completed the environmental document for adding a carpool lane on the I-5 in both directions between Avenida Pico and San Juan Creek Road and reconstructing the Avenida Pico interchange. Design of this project also was initiated. In addition, OCTA began the environmental study to add lanes to the I-5 between SR-73 and El Toro Road (M2 – Projects C and D).

Design was completed for the reconstruction of the I-5/SR-74 interchange. The environmental study to add lanes to SR-55 between I-405 and I-5 also was under way (M2 – Project D and F).

State Route 57
Construction began on a new northbound lane on the SR-57 from Orangethorpe Avenue to Lambert Avenue through Brea, Fullerton and Placentia. OCTA also completed the final design for a new northbound lane addition on the SR-57 between Katella Avenue and Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim (M2 – Project G).

State Route 91
Design was under way to add a new westbound lane on SR-91 between the I-5 and the SR-57. Design also was initiated on the westbound SR-91 between the SR-55 and Tustin Avenue, which is an M2 project, but state funded (M2 – Projects H and I).

Construction started in summer 2011 on the SR-91 from the SR-55 to State Route 241 (SR-241), adding one lane in each direction (M2 – Project J).

The first M2 freeway project, adding eastbound lanes on the SR-91 between State Route 241 (SR-241) and State Route 71 (SR-71), opened before a single dollar of M2 revenue was collected. This was the first Orange County freeway project to receive funding under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, thereby freeing up future M2 funds for other projects (M2 – Project J).

Interstate 405
An environmental study on the Interstate 405 (I-405) between State Route 73 (SR-73) and Interstate 605 (I-605) continued. The three build alternatives are: 1) adding one lane in each direction, 2) adding two lanes in each direction, and 3) adding a toll lane to the existing carpool lane and a single general purpose lane in each direction. All build alternatives include interchange improvements (M2 – Project K).