91 Freeway Getting Major Overhaul To Lessen Big Bottleneck Area

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A $779 million construction project — designed to lessen traffic congestion while speeding up travel times on state Route 91 — is underway.

On Friday, the Orange County Transportation Authority and Caltrans broke ground on the 91 Freeway Improvement project that targets a five-mile stretch between state Routes 55 and 57.

Inland Empire residents regularly use the 91 freeway to commute to Orange and Los Angeles counties. The freeway is one of the most heavily traveled in Southern California.

The plan calls for constructing separate westbound 91 and southbound 55 traffic lanes. The design aims to make the stretch safer by reducing motorists' weaving and merging between on- and off-ramps.

A new eastbound 91 lane between the 55 and 57 will also be added as part of the project.

Additionally, the plan calls for rebuilding major overcrossings within the five-mile stretch to include new safety features, sidewalks and bike lanes.

Up to 321,000 vehicles travel on this stretch of SR-91 daily, and that number is expected to rise in the coming years, according to the OCTA.

"This project will help reduce bottlenecks and create more reliable travel times for the thousands of drivers who rely on this corridor every day," said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, who is also Orange County’s Fourth District Supervisor.

OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson acknowledged that ongoing construction work could impact SR-91 traffic .

"We appreciate the community’s ongoing patience and support as we work toward delivering much-needed traffic relief and long-term transportation solutions," Johnson said.

The improvement project is set to be completed by 2030. Funding comes from a combination of OCTA’s local sales tax, state and federal funds, as well as 91 Express Lanes toll revenue, according to OCTA officials.

For more information on the project, visit www.octa.net/91improvements.