Seal Beach Boulevard and Valley View Boulevard bridges will remain open but one side or the other will be closed during reconstruction.
The 7th St. bridge closure is represented (photos below) as needed because (first photo below) "The current [7th St. bridge] structure limits further lane additions [on 405]." OCTA FAQ text indicates: "The northbound I-405 to westbound SR-22 connector, otherwise known as the 7th Street bridge, will be closed for approximately one year during construction.
Unfortunately, unlike the Valley View Street and Seal Beach Boulevard Bridges, this structure cannot be reconstructed one half at a time."
Caltrans says the gain will be adding ramps connecting the HOV lanes between the north and southbound 405 and 605 freeways and east and westbound 22 freeways. (A second HOV [carpool] lane will also be added in each direction). Caltrans says $400-million project will greatly improve traffic flow because motorists in HOV lanes won't have to get out of those lanes and cross general purpose lanes to change freeways.
If you have questions, Caltrans has scheduled a series of community meetings in the affected areas. The sole LB meeting is on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at Kettering Elementary School, 550 Silvera Avenue, from 6-8 p.m.
Here are some "Frequently Asked Questions" as answered on CalTrans' West County Connectors website:
What is the West County Connectors Project?
The West County Connectors (WCC) project was initiated by the Orange County
Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to link high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, otherwise known as
carpool lanes, on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) with those on the Garden
Grove Freeway (SR-22) and the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) to create a
seamless HOV connection among the three freeways. The project will:
- Add an additional HOV lane in each direction on I-405 between the
SR-22 and the I-605 (for a total of two in each direction)
- Connect the SR-22 HOV lanes east of Valley View Street with the HOV
lanes on I-405 west of Valley View Street via a direct-connector ramp
- Connect the I-405 HOV lanes south of I-605 to the HOV lanes on
I-605 via a direct-connector bridge
- Reconstruct the Valley View Street bridge crossing over SR-22 and the
Seal Beach Boulevard bridge crossing over I-405
- Reconstruct the existing connector bridge ramps between I-405 and
SR-22 and those between I-405 and I-605
- Reconstruct the northbound I-405 to westbound SR-22 connector
- Reconstruct various on- and off-ramps
- Construct soundwalls and retaining walls at various locations
- Add landscaping and hardscaping elements
How is the WCC Project different from the I-405 Improvement Project
currently in the environmental phase?
The WCC project is the second phase of the SR-22 HOV project recently
constructed between the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) and Valley View Street.
The WCC project will add an additional HOV (carpool) lane to the portion of I-405
between the SR-22 near Valley View Street and the I-605. The project has an
approved environmental impact statement and is currently in final design. WCC
project construction is scheduled to begin in early 2010.
The I-405 project environmental document will further study the two alternatives
from the Project Study Report: adding one lane in each direction or two lanes in
each direction. The OCTA Board of Directors also recently voted to study a
funding constrained alternative and explore a high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane
and general purpose lane option. Analysis of these alternatives will include
evaluating options to stay generally within the existing right of way...
What changes occurred as a result of public comments received during the
environmental planning phase of the WCC project?
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 I-405/I-605 HOV direct
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.
When will construction on the WCC project begin and end?
Construction is currently scheduled to begin in early 2010 and be completed in
late 2013.
How is the WCC project being funded?
The total project cost is $400 million, including $200 million in federal funds from
the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program and $200 million in
state funds from the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA).
How many new structures are included in the WCC project? Will any
existing structures be replaced?
There will be two new HOV bridges and reconstruction of several existing
bridges, including the Seal Beach Boulevard Bridge, Valley View Street Bridge
and 7th Street Bridge.
Will any structures be closed temporarily during construction?
The northbound I-405 to westbound SR-22 connector, otherwise known as the
7th Street bridge, will be closed for approximately one year during construction.
Unfortunately, unlike the Valley View Street and Seal Beach Boulevard Bridges,
this structure cannot be reconstructed one half at a time.
The eastbound SR-22 to northbound I-405 connector will be closed for
approximately ten months while it is being reconstructed.
The southbound I-605/southbound I-405 connector and eastbound SR-
22/southbound I-405 connectors will also be closed for approximately two weeks
at different times during the project.
Recommended detour routes will be publicized well in advance of each closure.
How will traffic on Seal Beach Boulevard be handled during construction?
OCTA and Caltrans developed a traffic management plan, in coordination with
the WCC project corridor cities, to address all construction staging. The Seal
Beach Boulevard Bridge will be reconstructed one half at a time and
reconstruction of both the Valley View Street Bridge and the northbound I-405 to
westbound SR-22/7th Street bridge will be complete before work will begin on
Seal Beach Boulevard Bridge.
During the first phase of construction of the Seal Beach Boulevard Bridge, one
lane will be open in each direction and a center median will be dedicated to
emergency vehicle use only. During the second phase of construction, two lanes
will be available in each direction. Once construction on the bridge is complete,
there will be four lanes on the northbound side of the bridge and three lanes on
the southbound side.
Caltrans recently completed the installation of numerous lights between
Valley View Street and Seal Beach Boulevard to increase safety. Is
reinstalling these lights part of the West County Connectors Project?
Yes. The center median of the freeway will be shifted to accommodate the new
I-405/SR-22 HOV structure. OCTA’s intent is to save the existing light fixtures
and reinstall them on the new median barrier as part of the WCC Project.
How will the WCC Project address access to emergency vehicles during
construction?
Emergency access will be maintained at all times during construction. OCTA
community relations staff members are working diligently with local emergency
services to ensure the proper entities are notified of closures, detours and other
construction activities. During the first phase of construction on the Seal Beach
Boulevard Bridge there will be one lane open in either direction and a center
striped median reserved for emergency vehicle use only.
How will construction affect the commute on the SR-22, I-405 & I-605?
The flow of traffic will improve once construction is complete. During
construction, motorists may experience some delays. However, construction
crews will be working safely and efficiently to ensure the project is completed on
time and with minimal inconvenience to the traveling public. To accommodate
motorists traveling through the area, closures during peak travel times or
holidays will be limited. When closures are unavoidable, detour routes will be
provided along with advance notification and signage. Most temporary closures
will be late at night to minimize traffic impacts.
Will new soundwalls be constructed as a part of this project? Will existing
soundwalls be replaced?
The project will include new soundwalls and in certain instances replacement of
existing soundwalls per the project’s approved environmental document. For
detailed information about a soundwall in your area, please contact Christina
Byrne, OCTA Community Relations Officer, at (714) 560-5717 or
cbyrne@octa.net
How is OCTA mitigating impacts to schools adjacent to the project?
Traffic noise level predictions were modeled for the three school buildings (Lee,
Weaver, and Francis Elementary Schools) in the Rossmoor community closest to
the project alignment. At each of these schools, the modeled worst-hour traffic
noise levels outside the school building was found not to approach
Caltrans’/Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) exterior noise abatement
criteria (NAC) of 67 dBA. The modeled noise levels outside the school buildings
were adjusted to predict the interior noise levels using the FHWA building noise
reduction values for typical building structures.
It was assumed that windows would be open in school buildings that are not airconditioned,
providing a 10 dBA noise reduction between outside and inside the
building. For school buildings that are air-conditioned, it was assumed windows
would be closed, providing a building noise reduction of 20 dBA. Based on the
analyses, the estimated interior noise levels at these three schools would not
approach or exceed Caltrans’/FHWA interior NAC of 52 dBA.
Predicted carbon monoxide concentrations from vehicle emissions are below the
applicable Federal and State standards.
Where can I find out more information about the project?
For more information regarding this project or any other Orange County freeway
improvement project, call the toll free Transportation Helpline at (800) 724-0353
or log on to www.octa.net/westcounty
