I-5 Gateway Project

Improving the Gateway to Orange County

Construction began in spring 2006 on the I-5 Gateway Project. The four-year project is widening the remaining two miles of the Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) in Orange County from the Riverside Freeway (State Route 91) to the Los Angeles County line. The I-5 Gateway Project is the final link in Measure M’s (Orange County’s half-cent transportation sales tax) ambitious freeway improvement program and is scheduled to be completed in fall 2010.

Project Highlights

• Add a new travel lane in each direction
• Add a new carpool lane in each direction
• Add extended merging lanes where possible
• Rebuild overpasses at Stanton Avenue, Beach Boulevard and Western Avenue
• Rebuild Artesia Boulevard underpass and realign northbound on- and off-ramps
• Realign the railroad from Stanton Avenue to Artesia Boulevard
• Build aesthetically pleasing retaining walls

Southbound I-5 to Eastbound SR-91 HOV Connector Temporarily Closed 

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Major Construction Activities Focus on Rebuilding Beach Blvd. Overpass

Work to reconstruct the Beach Boulevard bridge over I-5 began in March 2008. It is being rebuilt in two phases and will take approximately 19 months to complete. During the most of the reconstruction, there are only two lanes available in each direction on Beach Boulevard where it crosses I-5 through September.

Beach Blvd. Commuter Coupons

Delegation of Officials from Mexico Tour I-5 Gateway Project
On September 12, 2008, a delegation of mayors, secretaries of economic development, council members, architects, and engineers from the Mexican state of Guanajuato got a special, "behind-the-scenes" tour of the I-5 Gateway Project. OCTA Director Art Brown and Caltrans Deputy District Director Jim Beil welcomed the group of 10 officials who experienced the impact of pile driving first hand while out on the job site. Benito Mora Segovia, Secretary of Economic Development, expressed that the delegation was happy to have been treated to a tour of such a project and given the opportunity to ask questions. They especially enjoyed meeting the actual people that are building the project. He said they left excited and with a lot of enthusiasm to start implementing many of the things they learned. The tour was part of a three-day trip to Orange County to give the officials a better understanding of construction projects in the United States. To view a picture from the event, click here.

Pile Driving Activities Continue at I-5/Beach Blvd.

Pile driving (large, steel beams that are installed deep into the ground to support new structures) continues along the I-5 and Beach Boulevard through April. These activities will cause noise and vibration in the surrounding area during the daytime and evening hours.  We regret any inconvenience this will cause; project engineers will monitor the work to make sure it is done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

More Information:
Construction Alerts
Project Schedule
Construction Photo Album
Project Renderings

Project Fact Sheet
Project Brochure

For more information, contact Alice Rogan at arogan@octa.net or 714.560.5577.

I-5 Freeway Widening Improvements in Los Angeles
To learn more about the I-5 Corridor Improvement Project that is taking place in Los Angeles, contact Jeanne Bonfilio at jeanne_bonfilio@dot.ca.gov or 213.897.3630.

Metro Project Fact Sheet
Metro Carmenita Fact Sheet