New 405 Freeway Lanes Set For Opening: What To Know

COSTA MESA, CA — Southern California commuters will soon have a new way to get around, after officials announced the Dec. 1 opening of new lanes on the State route 405 Freeway.

The new lanes are a part of the $2.6 billion project to widen the 405 Freeway from northern Orange County to the 73 Freeway.

According to the Orange County Transportation Authority, two new general lanes and two express lanes were added to both sides of the freeway.

In addition, the current carpool lanes along the 405 are changing to express lanes, with two in each direction.

This week, carpool lanes and connectors along the 405 Freeway will close as OCTA officials begin testing the tolls. The northbound 405 carpool lane, as well as the connector lanes between the 22 Freeway and the 405 and the 605 Freeway and 405 Freeway will close the night of Nov. 1, officials said.

The 405 Express Lanes will require a FasTrak transponder and will charge drivers a toll, officials said, depending on the time of day.

According to an OCTA statement, the most a driver will pay is $9.95 during a Friday afternoon commute north. Most drivers — on average — will pay $3 to travel the entire 14 miles on the express lanes, officials said.

For more information on OCTA's Freeway Widening Project, visit the agency's website.