I-405 Improvements/ Express Lanes Design-Build
As one of Orange County’s busiest highways, I-405 experiences traffic congestion on a regular basis. To maintain efficiency on this route, the freeway is being widened to accommodate two tolled express lanes.
Implementing express lanes on I-405 will relieve congestion as traffic volumes increase.
I-405 is a heavily traveled highway utilized by both local traffic and commercial trucks. This route provides interregional travel for commuters while facilitating the movement of goods between nearby port cities and the San Diego region. As a result, I-405 has become one of the most congested highways in Southern California, a problem that is exacerbated by deficiencies such as multiple lane drops and limited on-/off-ramp capacity. The highway carries over 250,000 motorists on a daily basis, and traffic volumes are expected to increase by approximately 35% by 2040.
To address these issues, express lanes are being implemented in each direction along a 17-mile corridor on I-405. The project has been divided into seven design segments that are being delivered simultaneously. Advanced Civil Technologies was responsible for the delivery of Segment 1.3 in the City of Fountain Valley. Improvements were provided along three local streets within the segment limits, including ADA compliant upgrades for pedestrian facilities. Additionally, our staff has been responsible for the preparation of signing and striping plans and Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) coordination for all seven design segments of the project.
Our team developed complex staging concepts to maintain traffic levels during construction.
The project has presented numerous challenges. Right-of-way access is very limited both on local streets and along the highway, leaving limited space for construction staging. Additionally, the delivery schedule was very tight, requiring the quick turnaround of a high-quality package. Our team excelled at delivering quality work on an expedited schedule, and Segment 1.3 was one of the first segments of the project to receive Release For Construction approval.
