The Orange County Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS-OC) recognized the Oso Parkway Bridge Project with the 2021 Innovative Transportation Solutions Award during a virtual ceremony held Thursday, Dec. 2.

The annual award honors an outstanding and innovative transportation project or service that improves the quality of life for its users and the community.

The nearly $40 million project opened on Jan. 13 and was the three-year product of a partnership between the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), County of Orange and Caltrans.

The bridge offers six lanes of travel (three in each direction) and adds dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks, enhancing safety for students and families accessing Tesoro High School.

TCA funded the project and established a partnership with OC Public Works to oversee construction. The new bridge improves mobility and connectivity in South Orange County and provides improved access to businesses and restaurants in areas such as Rancho Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Uniquely, the project was led by two women: a female project manager at TCA and a female project manager leading the consultant team under contract to TCA. The project was also supported by the leadership of an all-female agency public outreach team and one of the construction contractor’s lead staff.

“We are extremely proud to see this project — led by women — receive recognition from WTS-OC, which is dedicated to building the future of transportation through the global advancement of women,” said Peggy Huang, Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency Chair and Yorba Linda Mayor. “The successful partnerships that led to the project’s completion are yet another example of TCA’s ability to help bring projects like this to fruition thanks to sound financial planning and a history of fiscal responsibility that has kept the Agencies on solid footing.” 

In March 2021, the project received the 2021 Bridge Project of the Year award from the ASCE Orange County Branch. In receiving the section award, the project bested submissions from six other counties.

In October 2021, ASCE Los Angeles also recognized the project as the regional Project of the Year.

The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) are two joint powers authorities formed by the California Legislature in 1986 to plan, finance, construct and operate Orange County’s public toll road system comprised of the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads.