West County Connectors
Project Overview
The West County Connectors Project was initiated by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to link high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes/carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) with those on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) and San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) to create a seamless HOV connection amongst the three freeways. The project traverses the cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and the community of Rossmoor.
The project also will:
construct two direct HOV connectors
add a second HOV lane in each direction on I-405 between the SR-22 and the I-605
eliminate HOV users weaving across general purpose lanes to switch to and from HOV lanes.
reconstruct on- and off-ramps
construct soundwalls and retaining walls at various locations
add landscaping and enhance aesthetic elements.
Virtual Open House
Additional Information
Project Map
Click here to download.
SR-22/I-405 HOV Connector Segment
The SR-22/I-405 HOV Connector Project, scheduled to start construction in summer 2010, is the eastern segment of the project and will:
- Directly connect the westbound SR-22 HOV lane at Valley View Street to the HOV lane on northbound I-405 and the reverse movement.
- Reconstruct the Valley View Street bridge crossing over the SR-22 and I-405.
The I-405/I-605 HOV Connector Segment
The I-405/I-605 HOV Connector Project, scheduled to start construction in late 2010, is the westerly segment of the project and traverses through the cities of Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and the community of Rossmoor. The segment will:
- Directly connect the northbound I-405 HOV lane to the HOV lane on the northbound I-605 and the reverse movement
- Reconstruct the Seal Beach Boulevard bridge crossing over I-405. Click for more information.
Northbound I-405 to Westbound SR-22/7th Street Connector Closure
The northbound I-405 to westbound SR-22 connector, otherwise known as the 7th Street bridge, will be reconstructed during the WCC project to accommodate additional lanes on the I-405 freeway. This structure will be closed approximately one year starting in late 2010. Unfortunately, unlike the Valley View Street and Seal Beach Blvd. bridges, this structure cannot be reconstructed one half at a time.
7th Street Bridge Closure
Other Closures (Click links below for more information)
Eastbound SR-22 to Northbound I-405 - 10 months
Southbound I-605 to Southbound I-405 Connector - 2 weeks
Eastbound SR-22 to Southbound I-405 Connector - 2 weeks
West County Connectors Project Environmental Document
In response to comments on the 2001 Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/EIS), Caltrans further analyzed multiple sections of the SR-22 corridor to refine right-of-way limits and reduce environmental impacts. Due to these efforts, the proposed direct I-405/I-605 HOV connector was realigned and will be constructed below the existing southbound I-405 to northbound I-605 connector. The design modification is in compliance with the environmental report to mitigate the visual impact to the adjacent community of Rossmoor and the city of Seal Beach. Right-of-way impacts also were eliminated to the community of Rossmoor and the city of Seal Beach College Park East development.
Project Schedule:
East Segment - Summer 2010
West Segment - Fall 2010
Project Funding:
$328 million (in 2006 dollars)
- $87 million from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program
- $50 million from the from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
- $186 million from the Corridor Mobility Improvement Act (CMIA)
- $5 million from local funds
If you would like additional information regarding the West County Connectors project, please contact Christina Byrne at (714) 560-5717 or visit our Keep Me Informed Page.
