Infra Insight Blog

Drivers of the I-405 in Orange County California are one step closer to an improved facility.  Today the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) authorized release of a final request for proposals to design and construct the I-405 Improvement Project, the largest highway project in Southern California.  The project includes upgrading 16 miles of the I-405 between SR-73 in Costa Mesa and I-605 near the Los Angeles County line, adding a general purpose lane in each direction.  A new lane will also be added next to the current HOV lane between SR-73 and SR-22, and both lanes, in each direction, will be operated as the 405 Express Lanes.  These tolled express lanes will vary in price based on the volume of traffic on the mainlane to optimize travel.  Single occupancy vehicles will pay the full toll while carpools may pay reduced rates or travel for free.

The general purpose lanes will be funded by local, state and federal funds.  The 405 Express Lanes will be funded primarily through the tolls collected from drivers choosing to use the new express lanes.  OCTA has submitted a letter of interest for a TIFIA loan to finance the express lanes.

Three shortlisted teams are being invited to submit proposals: Skanska-Flatiron JV, Shimmick/Tutor-Perini, JV, and OC 405 Partners, a joint venture of OHL/Astaldi.   Proposals are due August 31, 2016.