BUENA PARK – Four years after construction began to widen I-5 in northernmost Orange County, all lanes have officially opened and the final project funded by the original 20-year Measure M is now complete.
The I-5 Gateway project began in 2006 and has added two lanes in each direction on the freeway for about two miles from the 91 to the county line.
The original Measure M is a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements that was approved by voters in 1990. Renewed by voters in 2006, Measure M2 will be in effect in Orange County through 2041.
Buena Park resident Ted Miller has spent 55 years watching traffic along the Santa Ana Freeway.
“It’s a long time coming,” he said of the improvements. “I like it, all right.”
The $335-million project has added one car-pool lane and one general travel lane in each direction. Auxiliary lanes have also been added in each direction from the 91 to Beach Boulevard. State and federal funding for the project totaled $147 million while $188 million came from Measure M.
“Since 1993 we’ve been working on the 5 freeway starting down in the El Toro area and moving our way up north until today we reach this culmination…we remain committed as always for providing mobility for Southern California,” said Tustin Mayor Jerry Amante, at a dedication ceremony Tuesday. He’s also the chairman for the Orange County Transportation Authority.
Officials praised the half-cent sales tax for providing an efficient transportation system when compared to Los Angeles.
“We do a lot better job here in Orange County than some of our neighbors in moving traffic at half the price,” said Senator Lou Correa.
Republican Assemblyman Chris Norby of Fullerton said Orange County is setting an example to other counties with improvements like the I-5 widening.
“With all the improvements we’ve made here, this gateway going south is also a gateway going north to a freeway of the past – one that hasn’t changed in five and a half decades,” Norby said.
Officials said the added lanes will help ease congestion on the stretch of freeway traveled by an average of 172,000 vehicles a day. Traffic is expected to grow to more than 300,000 average daily vehicles by 2020.
Wayne King, manager of Ganahl Lumber in Buena Park, got a front seat view of the entire project. The lumber yard and hardware store sits at the freeway’s interchange with Beach Boulevard, which was completely reconstructed in the area.
“It’s good news,” he said of the improvements’ completion. “It’s going to help make us a little more visible to customers and help them get to us.”
And of course, location is everything.
“We did pick up some business just from the construction being done nearby,” King said. When contractors needed tools, they didn’t have to go far to find them.
Despite the fanfare at Tuesday’s event, not everyone has been happy with the project.
Buena Park Nissan has sued the Orange County Transportation Authority, Caltrans, and the contractors who made the freeway improvements. The lawsuit alleges work done to install a retaining wall along the freeway damaged a dealership building, and that the business got no compensation from any public agency. The lawsuit also says the dealership lost customers because of “dust, fumes, and vibrations” from the freeway work.
“Before we celebrate the success of the last four years, OCTA should attempt to fix what they have broken along the way,” Greg Brown of Buena Park Nissan wrote in an e-mail to the OCTA. “I don’t think congratulations are in order until the damage to the local businesses and individuals have been addressed.”
OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik said he couldn’t discuss the lawsuit. However, he did say OCTA recognized the road work affected many people and businesses in the surrounding area.
“There’s been extensive outreach to the entire community. We understand with a $335 million construction project, there’s immense benefit to the residents, but there are going to be some inconveniences,” Zlotnik said. “We make every effort to be responsive to their concerns.”
Zlotnik said crews are still working on landscaping but said all major improvements were complete as of last Thursday when the new lanes opened.
“People come from near and far to visit Knott’s Berry Farm and other attractions here in Buena Park. It’s no secret if traffic is too jammed, those visitors will go elsewhere and will take their dollars with them,” said Buena Park Mayor Art Brown, who also servers on the OCTA board of directors. “Our city’s future depends on a large part of those who visit the city — whether for the theme park or to buy a car at our auto malls.”
Contact the writer: amolina@ocregister.com or 714-704-3795
