OCTA leaders and Irvine officials gathered Aug. 11 to mark the opening of the Sand Canyon undercrossing, designed to enhance safety and improve commute times by eliminating the need for drivers to wait at rail crossings.
OCTA Vice Chairman Jeff Lalloway, also Irvine’s mayor pro tem, OCTA Director Todd Spitzer, also the county’s Third District Supervisor, and OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson joined Irvine Mayor Steven Choi in addressing the gathering.
Funded from a mix of sources including Measure M and local, state and federal funds, construction on the $64 million project began in 2011. A temporary road and rail line were built to keep trains and cars moving during construction.
The project widened Sand Canyon Avenue from four to six lanes between the Interstate 5 (I-5) freeway and Oak Canyon/Laguna Canyon Road and added bicycle lanes.
