I-405 Improvement Project

I-405 Overview

One of the ten busiest roads in the United States, the I-405 freeway is a primary passage to beautiful beaches, world class shopping centers, airports, industrial and residential areas. Whether you are going to work, picking up your kids or going on a leisurely day of beach combing, theater and arts, the chances are you will become one person among 300,000 motorists who use this road daily.

The San Diego Freeway (I-405) is one of the most congested freeways

in Orange County. Exceeding 300,000 vehicles daily, it is well over its capacity and sees severe traffic delays during rush hour.

Volumes on  the I-405 are expected to increase approximately 20 percent and the population is expected to grow 13 percent by 2030.

San Diego Freeway (I-405) Improvement Project

The I-405 Improvement Project proposes to add new lanes to the freeway between the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) and the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55). Additionally, the project will update interchanges and widen all local over crossings according to city and regional master plans. These additions will:

* Increase freeway capacity

* Reduce traffic congestion

* Allow faster travel throughout all of Orange County

Environmental Phase and Project Alternatives

A formal environmental analysis of the proposed improvements will begin in early 2009 and must be complete before the project moves forward to design, right-of-way and construction. Including options to stay generally within the existing right-of-way, the I-405 project environmental document will further study the two alternatives from the Project Study Report:

* One lane in each direction

* Two lanes in each direction

The OCTA Board of Directors has also directed staff to study a:

* “funding constrained” alternative

*a high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane and general purpose lane option

The environmental phase will include extensive public outreach at the scoping and draft environmental document milestones. Scoping meetings will be held in mid 2009 to give the community a general overview of the project . This will be an excellent opportunity for the public to provide feedback on early plans.

Construction is approximately seven to ten years away, depending on funding availability. Currently there is an estimated $500 million allocated to the proposed project from the Renewed Measure M Freeway Program.

For more information, contact Christina Byrne at (714) 560-5717 or cbyrne@octa.net.