City to Condemn Land for Lane to Freeway
The city is proceeding with a plan to acquire a strip of land along 17th Street by eminent domain as part of a project to provide better access to the Costa Mesa Freeway.
Installing an extra lane on the westbound portion of 17th street to give motorists direct access to the freeway, officials said, would help reduce congestion and traffic backup along the street.
To build the extra lane, the city must first obtain a strip of land occupied by a Mimi’s Cafe and a Chevron gas station.
The City Council voted Monday to declare that the land is needed for the public good, the first step in acquiring it.
The new lane, which will be funded with state money, is part of a larger construction project by the Orange County Transportation Authority, Caltrans and the cities of Santa Ana and Tustin to improve the freeway and surrounding streets.
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