Today, nearly 360,000 motorists travel I-5 daily between the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (SR-73) and El Toro Road. Transportation planners expect traffic volumes to grow 25 percent by 2045. To address this travel demand, OCTA and Caltrans are working together on the San Diego Freeway (I-5) Widening project from SR-73 to El Toro Road.
Located adjacent to the cities of Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel, this $580 million freeway improvement project is being built in three segments and includes numerous roadway, structural and operational improvements, including new general purpose lanes, improved intersections and widened ramps.
Here’s a snapshot of the most current construction activities and milestones on each segment:
Segment 1, SR-73 to Oso Pkwy:
- At the Avery Parkway Interchange, crews completed the demolition of the eastern and center span of the bridge and pile driving at the center span through April. Approximately 200 steel piles will be installed to allow for the bridge construction and widening.
- Sidewalks and ADA ramps at Camino Capistrano and Paseo de Colinas have been completed and permanent signals have been installed.
Segment 2, Oso Pkwy. To Alicia Pkwy.
- The reconstructed I-5 northbound off-ramp at La Paz Parkway opened to motorists on April 2. Traffic will be shifted onto the new off-ramp as crews continue widening and improvements on the La Paz bridge at I-5.
Segment 3, Alicia Pkwy. To El Toro Rd.
- The first permanent pavement for the northbound and southbound Alicia Parkway off-ramps is complete.
- Following construction at the Aliso Creek channel, the Alicia Creek Bikeway, Hiking and Riding Trail is expected to open this summer.
- Utility relocation is underway at Avenida de la Carlota with a SCE facility relocation at the Laguna Hills Mall.
- Crews continue work on the El Toro Road and I-5 interchange and will move to outer areas of the bridge to construct the new abutments.