The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), in coordination with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), completed the installation of approximately 80 new channelizers on the northbound 241 Toll Road connector to the 91 Freeway.
Channelizers are vertical posts made of plastic polyurethane and are used to separate lanes of traffic. New posts were installed from the end of the existing channelizers past the dirt median between the eastbound and westbound 91 Freeway connector ramps.
With a high number of commuters traveling from Orange County to the Inland Empire each afternoon, traffic congestion on the 91 Freeway creates queuing on the northbound 241 Toll Road in the two right lanes, while westbound traffic in the two left lanes heading to Anaheim and Yorba Linda continues to flow freely.
Adding to the bumper-to-bumper frustration were queue jumpers at the dirt median who attempted to bypass the congestion by driving in the two left westbound lanes only to cut in at the last minute. The channelizers provide countermeasures to enhance driver safety and lessen the risks associated with rapid breaking near the merge point.
"TCA has been monitoring the area and observed vehicles crossing the dirt median to access the eastbound 91 Freeway connector. The extension of channelizers will help prevent vehicles from crossing over,” said TCA Chief Executive Officer Ryan Chamberlain. "We are always looking to improve mobility on The Toll Roads and promote safe and courteous driving habits for all of our customers.”
In early 2022, as part of TCA’s Northbound 241 Channelizer Project, more than 800 channelizers were installed along a one-mile stretch of the northbound 241 Toll Road from the Windy Ridge Mainline Toll Point to 91 Freeway. However, queue jumpers began to use the dirt median, crossing from the lanes of the westbound connector into the congested eastbound 91 Freeway connector lanes, which lead to the installation of more channelizers.
"With feedback from the community and our partners at the California Highway Patrol, we continue to make improvements that further enhance safety on The Toll Roads,” said Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency Chair and San Juan Capistrano City Council Member John Taylor. “The new channelizers benefit drivers traveling both east and westbound by extending the physical barrier to further prevent queue jumping."
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, which represents 20% of Orange County’s highway system.
