OC 405 Partners Selected by OCTA to Widen 405 Freeway

ORANGE, CA - Orange County Transportation Authority board members Monday selected a company to design and construct a widening of the San Diego (405) Freeway.

The $1.2 billion contract went to OC 405 Partners, which is expected to begin work next year, according to OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik.

The busy freeway, which has about 370,000 motorists a day, will be widened by a lane in each direction. Express lanes will be added as well.

"We look forward to breaking ground on the single largest project OCTA has undertaken," said Lori Donchak, who chairs the agency's board. "The I-405 is one of the busiest highways in the nation and we want to make it easier for the millions of people driving through this area."

OC 405 Partners is led by OHL USA Inc. and Astaldi Construction Corporation. The firms also worked on the Interstate15 Corridor Reconstruction Project in Utah and the state Route 826/836 Interchange Reconstruction Project in Florida, Zlotnik said.

Workers also will rebuild 18 bridges, and with the toll lanes drivers will be given a choice to pay a toll if they want to get through traffic faster.

Carpooling motorists with at least one passenger will be able to use the express lanes at no cost for the first three-and-a-half years, Zlotnik said. Cars with three or more occupants may use the express lanes at no cost at all times, Zlotnik added.

-- City News Service, photo credit: Tony Webster/Wiki Commons