MISSION VIEJO : More Funds Given for Parkway Project

An engineering firm has been given an additional $133,750 to complete design work for improvements to the heavily traveled Crown Valley Parkway freeway interchange. The money approved by the council brings the total for project design fees to $912,000.

City officials said that the extra money paid to Robert Bein, William Frost & Associates will pay for project changes requested by Mission Viejo and the California Department of Transportation.

However, funding for the increase will not come from city coffers, according to documents prepared by City Engineer Dennis Wilberg. The same state, county and local transportation funds being tapped for the street and interchange renovations will cover the added costs.

Crown Valley Parkway is the source of major traffic tie-ups in the city, particularly for vehicles exiting the freeway. The renovations will widen the parkway and provide extra turning lanes on the streets and the on-ramps and off-ramps.