Santa Ana Freeway to soon see congestion relief

A $215 million construction project aimed at easing congestion on the Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) has begun.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority have begun working on the project that will eventually provide relief for 170,000 motorists daily.

“This project will be good for commuters and good for the economy, as I-5 is a key route for the movement of people, goods and services throughout California,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said. “All the improvements to I-5 by Caltrans and our transportation partners will ultimately improve traffic flow and safety and decrease surface street traffic for those who live, work and travel along this important highway corridor.”

One carpool lane and one general purpose lane in each direction of I-5 will be added by way of the Florence Avenue Project, which extends from Orr and Day Road in Santa Fe Springs to just south of the San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate 605) in Downey. The Florence Avenue overcross and the Orr and Day Road overcross will also be widened to allow for better traffic flow and safety, while the Florence Avenue Interchange will be reconfigured.

Overall, Caltrans is investing $3.2 billion to improve traffic on I-5 in Los Angeles County from Burbank to the Kern County line and from the Los Angeles and Orange County line to the San Gabriel River Freeway. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2019.