Long Awaited Ortega Bridge Dedication To Include Blessing

A dedication ceremony will take place Thursday marking the long awaited completion of the Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange Improvement Project.

Several elected officials are expected to be on hand to celebrate the $77.2 million project that opened in early September after a 2 1/2-year build period. The improvements, which include a widened Ortega Highway Bridge, reconstructed on- and off-ramps, a new northbound I-5 loop on-ramp from eastbound Ortega Highway and a realigned Ortega Highway/Del Obispo intersection, will help ease traffic delays through the heavily traveled interchange, especially during the peak morning and evening commutes.

The event takes place in the parking lot adjacent to the Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, in San Juan Capistrano. It is scheduled to begin Thursday, 10:30 a.m..

Blessings of the bridge from the Rev. Monsignor J. Michael McKiernan, a pastor of the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano/Mission San Juan Capistrano, and from Joyce Stanfield Perry, of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, will be part of the ceremony.

Officials expected to speak include:

· California Sen. Pat Bates, 36th District

· California Assemblyman William Brough, 73rd District

· Derek Reeve, Mayor of San Juan Capistrano

· Jeff Lalloway, OCTA Chairman and Mayor Pro Tem of Irvine

· Lori Donchak, OCTA Vice Chair and member of San Clemente City Council

· Lisa Bartlett, Orange County Supervisor, Fifth District

· Lucy Dunn, Chair of the California Transportation Commission

· Malcolm Dougherty, Director of the California Department of Transportation

· Darrell Johnson, CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority

-Martin Henderson