$247 Million OKd to Widen Santa Ana Fwy. in Anaheim : Transportation: Massive project will mean more than 600 right-of-way acquisitions and relocation of hundreds of businesses. Work will involve the so-called ‘Orange Crush’ stretch.

Orange County commuters and businesses won a key victory Friday when the California Transportation Commission approved $247 million to widen a stretch of the Santa Ana Freeway in Anaheim.

Financing for the project includes $161 million in new funds over a two-year period, a transfer of some $46 million from the Riverside Freeway widening project and an additional $40 million transferred from other road projects. The Riverside Freeway monies are available because publicly funded car-pool lanes have been replaced with private toll lanes in that project.

“We are very happy with the decision,” said Orange County Transportation Authority chief executive Stan Oftelie. “The emphasis now is on delivery of the project. We want to see continuous construction on the I-5 between now and the end of the decade.”

The funding decision marked the second major victory this week for local transportation officials. On Tuesday, Orange County’s Measure M sales tax was held valid in a 4th District Court of Appeal ruling. The half-cent sales tax is expected to raise more than $3.1 billion over the next 20 years for freeway, road and rail projects. The Santa Ana Freeway-widening project is to receive some $500 million of that sales tax revenue.

North County cities and businesses along the Santa Ana Freeway had made the widening project a top priority, forming a high-level coalition that included such firms as the Disney Co., the Los Angeles Rams, Rockwell International and Carl Karcher Enterprises to lobby for the funds.

Proponents of the project contend that congestion on the aging, battered freeway has stifled economic growth in the county, limiting the ability to attract a labor force and transport goods.

“The transportation element of the business climate has been a major focus,” said Ned Snavely, general manager of the Anaheim Marriott Hotel and chairman of the business coalition. “Be it the commute or tourism, the ability to get people in and out of this area more freely is a plus. We’re most appreciative of the commission for this endorsement of such an important project.”

Other project supporters agreed.

“This is extraordinarily important for Orange County because the Santa Ana Freeway is our lifeline,” said Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove). The project “is essential, both for the ease of commuters and business.”

Umberg conceded that his constituents initially might not be pleased with the hassles caused by the massive reconstruction job, scheduled to begin in early 1997.

“What’s most important to a person is what is happening at the moment, and commuters will undoubtedly be inconvenienced for a period,” he said. “But considering what’s to be gained, I don’t think people will think it that bad.”

The Santa Ana Freeway, built more than 30 years ago, is a major commercial and commuter route, connecting travelers with Los Angeles to the north and San Diego to the south.

About half of the county’s 2.4 million residents and more than two-thirds of the jobs in Orange County are within three miles of the freeway.

Efforts to widen the artery began in the mid-1980s at its juncture with the Costa Mesa Freeway. Various projects are underway.

The segment approved for funding Friday includes the section known as the “Orange Crush.” It stretches from the confluence of the Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Orange freeways north to Haster Street, just east of Disneyland. It is the first of five segments ending at the Riverside Freeway that are to be widened at a cost of more than $1 billion.

The Anaheim stretch is the most costly and is also expected to provide the biggest challenge to engineers.

“This will mean more than 600 right-of-way acquisitions, the relocation of hundreds of businesses, the building of power plants--it is very difficult,” said Oftelie.

The project will add two general-flow lanes and two car-pool lanes, doubling the size of the current expanse. North of Katella Avenue, a 14-foot buffer will be constructed between the car-pool lanes and the mixed-flow lanes. Auxiliary lanes will be provided between all on- and off-ramps and more than 16,000 feet of sound barriers will be added.

Major interchanges such as Harbor Boulevard, Ball Road, Euclid Street and Lincoln, Brookhurst and La Palma avenues will be reconstructed and retaining walls added along most on- and off-ramps.

In addition, two 16-foot-long enforcement areas for the California Highway Patrol will be added between the Santa Ana Freeway, Garden Grove Freeway and Orange Freeway interchange and Katella Avenue.

Freeway Projects

A project to expand the northern portion of Interstate 5 in Orange County received funding Friday from the California Transportation Commission. A rundown of widening projects from north to south:

Riverside Freeway to the “Orange Crush” Interchange

Five lanes in each direction, with one lane each side for car pools; commission money pays for first half of this section; work begins late 1996 and ends early 2000.

From Orange Crush to the Costa Mesa Freeway

Six lanes in each direction, with one lane each side for car pools; work began last year and ends mid-1996.

From Costa Mesa Freeway to El Toro “Y” interchange

Six lanes in each direction, with one lane each side for car pools; work began 1987 and ends early 1993.

From El Toro “Y” to Dana Point

Five lanes in each direction, with one lane each side for car pools; work begins mid-1994 and ends late 1996.

NOTE: Dates are subject to change.

Source: Orange County Transportation Authority and state Department of Transportation