Safety is always the highest priority for OCTA. In freeway construction zones, OCTA and Caltrans rely on a special program to help keep travelers and workers from harm.
The Construction Zone Enhanced Enforcement Program (COZEEP) enables Caltrans to hire California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers and vehicles to patrol project construction zones, which encourages motorists to reduce their speed and promotes overall safety in a construction area.
Funding for COZEEP comes from the highway construction project costs. COZEEP efforts are considered and necessitated when above normal traffic problems are anticipated or unique conditions warrant additional public or worker protection.
For example, OCTA counts on COZEEP during I-405 Improvement Project bridge construction and other activities. On a case by case basis, OCTA works with the CHP to patrol as needed near work zones.
In October, the speed limit within the I-405 project boundaries between I-605 and SR-73 changed from 65 mph to 55 mph for the safety of the traveling public and crews during construction. The signs alerting motorists of the new speed limit are installed on the northbound and southbound sides of the freeway in the project area, and on all on-ramps between I-605 and Fairview Road in Costa Mesa.
The signs, which will be in place for the duration of the project, allow the CHP to enforce the lower speed limit.
