Plans for 22 Freeway Expansion Reviewed

The planned expansion of the Garden Grove Freeway took a step toward fruition Monday with a review of the proposed bidding process by the Orange County Transportation Authority’s board of directors.

“We’re very excited about the project,” said Tim Keenan, the board’s vice chairman.

“This is the oldest freeway in Orange County that hasn’t had any improvements done to it. It hasn’t been touched since the 1960s.”

One result, transportation officials say, is rush-hour congestion unparalleled anywhere in the county.

“It’s like a parking lot out there,” Jim Silva, a county supervisor and transportation board member, said last year when the project was proposed.

Several options are being considered, ranging from simply expanding bus service along the route to an $872-million project that would add carpool lanes in both directions, as well as auxiliary lanes and connectors to the Costa Mesa, San Diego, Santa Ana and San Gabriel River freeways.

The most likely option, transportation officials say, is a $438-million project creating a single carpool lane in both directions as well as widening most of the freeway.

A final decision on the size of the project is expected in mid-September.

“We are on schedule to release the environmental impact report in early August,” and expect the Federal Highway Administration to react in September, said Beth Beeman, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

In a departure from the usual procedure, Keenan said, the design and building process will be overseen by the transportation authority.