Tollway Bypass Wins Council Approval

The two-year saga of the controversial Newport Coast Drive extension ended Tuesday night with the council’s 4-1 approval of the toll-road bypass.

All but one of the five council members were swayed by the prospect of the county building the extension anyway and billing the city for its $10-million cost. The route is intended to provide a toll-free bypass around the section of Newport Coast Drive that is being incorporated into the San Joaquin Hills toll road.

“Either we let the county pay for it now or Irvine pays for it later,” Councilman Barry Hammond said on Wednesday.

Councilwoman Christina Shea agreed: “When the county came in and said, ‘You’re going to be required to build this road,’ my hands were tied.”

A group of homeowners who organized the Newport Coast Drive Defense Fund are suing to prevent tolls from being charged on a section of the road. Defense fund attorney Jim Toledano said the bypass makes it easier for the Transportation Corridor Agencies to defend the Newport Coast Drive tollbooths.

“What the Irvine council has done is guarantee injury to Irvine, to the extent that they have undermined the lawsuit,” Toledano said. “There will now be two roads, running side by side.”

Mayor Mike Ward said that Toledano’s legal challenge should not be affected by the council action Tuesday night.

“This bypass is on the county’s General Plan; it really has nothing to do with placing tollbooths on Newport Coast Drive,” Ward said. “Basically, we saved Irvine some money.”

Councilwoman Paula Werner cast the only vote against the bypass, saying she saw no reason to change her opposition to the route. Werner could not be reached for comment Wednesday.