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I-5 South County Improvements Project

Construction Updates

OCTA, in cooperation with Caltrans, is constructing the I-5 Freeway Improvement Project between State Route 73 (SR-73) and El Toro Road. The project will improve 6.5 miles of I-5 through the cities of Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Niguel.

(949) 614-0202 | I5SouthCounty@octa.net

Project Details

Today, nearly 360,000 motorists travel I-5 daily between SR-73 and El Toro Road. Transportation planners forecast traffic volumes will grow 25 percent by 2045. To address this travel demand, OCTA and Caltrans are working together to construct the I-5 South County Improvements Project from SR-73 to El Toro Road.

roadway
  • New northbound and southbound general purpose lane from Avery Parkway to Alicia Parkway.
  • Extension of the second carpool lane from Alicia Parkway to El Toro Road, in both directions
structure
  • Reconstruct Avery Parkway and La Paz Road interchanges, and improve Los Alisos Boulevard Bridge
  • Modify all on- and off-ramps in project area
  • Add new sound and retaining walls
operational
  • Convert carpool lanes to continuous access, making it safer and easier for motorists to enter and exit the lanes at any time
  • Add new, and reestablish existing, auxiliary lanes between interchanges to improve local connectivity and facilitate merging and diverging
  • Install new overhead signs and lighting
  • Restripe regular lanes within project limits
details
Length

6.5 miles

Corridor Cities

Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel

Total estimated cost

$664 million

Schedule

Mid-2019 to Early 2025

Segment Overview

This freeway improvement project is being built in three segments and includes several roadway, structural and operational improvements such as new general purpose lanes, improved interchanges as well as on- and off-ramps.

segment 1
SR-73 to Oso Parkway
January 2020 to Early 2025
segment 2
Oso Parkway to Alicia Parkway
April 2019 to Late 2024
segment 3
Alicia Parkway to El Toro Road
January 2021 to Early 2025

Avery Parkway

roadway
  • Improve all Avery Parkway on- and off-ramps
  • Add northbound and southbound general purpose lane
  • Extend second carpool lane from Alicia Parkway to El Toro Road, in both directions
structure
  • Reconstruct Avery Parkway Interchange
  • Add new retaining walls
operational
  • Convert carpool lanes to continuous access
  • Add new, and reestablish existing, auxiliary lanes

Crown Valley Parkway

roadway
  • Modify five on- and off-ramps at Crown Valley
  • Add northbound and southbound general purpose lane
structure
  • Add Major Retaining Walls
  • Add Minor Retaining Walls
  • Add Concrete Barriers
operational
  • Convert carpool lanes to continuous access
  • Add new, and reestablish existing, auxiliary lanes

Oso Parkway

roadway
  • Add northbound and southbound general purpose lane
structure
  • Modify six on- and off-ramps at Oso Parkway
  • Add sound and retaining walls
operational
  • Convert carpool lanes to continuous access
  • Add new, and reestablish existing, auxiliary lanes

La Paz Road

roadway
  • Add northbound and southbound general purpose lane
structure
  • Reconstruct La Paz Road Interchange
  • Add sound and retaining walls
operational
  • Convert carpool lanes to continuous access
  • Add new, and reestablish existing, auxiliary lanes

Alicia Parkway

roadway
  • Extend second carpool lane from Alicia Parkway to El Toro Road
structure
  • Add retaining walls
  • Modify on- and off-ramps at Alicia Parkway
operational
  • Convert carpool lanes to continuous access
  • Add new, and reestablish existing, auxiliary lanes

El Toro Road

roadway
  • Extend second carpool lane between Alicia Parkway and El Toro Road
structure
  • Reconstruct Los Alisos Boulevard bridge
  • Add retaining walls
operational
  • Convert carpool lanes to continuous access
  • Add new, and reestablish existing, auxiliary lanes

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Contact the I-5 South County Improvements Project Outreach Team

If you have questions, please contact the Outreach Team by calling (949) 614-0202 or email i5SouthCounty@octa.net.

Para obtener más información sobre el proyecto, llame al (949) 614-0202 o envíe un correo electrónico a i5SouthCounty@octa.net.