OMG! The 605/405/22 Connector Project Is Almost Done!

Congratulations! You survived a four-year freeway construction project, and the end is finally near!

A series of bridges connecting carpool lanes on the San Diego (405), Garden Grove (22) and San Gabriel River (605) freeways are expected to begin opening on Sunday.

The so-called West County Connectors project, which has been four years in the making, will help relieve congestion and improve safety along the nation’s most heavily traveled stretch of freeway, according to Joel Zlotnik of the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Transportation officials moved up the date to open the bridges because of the threat of rain next week that could further delay the project.

The southbound San Gabriel River Freeway connection to the San Diego Freeway will open Sunday morning; The northbound connection from the San Diego Freeway to northbound San Gabriel River Freeway carpool lanes will open Tuesday morning.

The westbound Garden Grove Freeway connection to the northbound San Diego Freeway carpool lanes will open Wednesday morning. The southbound San Diego Freeway to eastbound Garden Grove Freeway carpool connection was opened up last month.

When the openings are completed, motorists can get from the carpool lanes from the Garden Grove Freeway to the San Diego Freeway to the San Gabriel River Freeway in both directions without having to exit the express lanes.

The $297-million project will help solve a major cause of congestion by eliminating the need of many drivers from having to merge in and out of carpool lanes. The project also includes a second carpool lane on the San Diego Freeway in both directions between the Garden Grove and San Gabriel River freeways.

About 370,000 vehicles a day pass over the San Diego Freeway near the Los Angeles-Orange county border.

The six-mile project extends through Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Long Beach and Rossmoor.

-City News Service