All six lanes – three in each direction – of Oso Parkway at the 241 Toll Road are open to drivers, marking a significant construction milestone for the Oso Parkway Bridge Project. Sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes on both sides are also open.
Crews constructed the Oso Parkway Bridge overcrossing one half at a time, while maintaining drive-through access for commuters and residents. Intermittent daytime lane closures may be necessary over the next few weeks to install traffic detection loops, create permanent striping and relocate traffic signals at each end of the project area.
“With the state’s stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, our construction crews continued to work diligently to minimize traffic impacts to the community and ensure all lanes on Oso Parkway were opened in a timely manner, providing an essential service for drivers in South Orange County,” said Dave Speirs, the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ (TCA) Chief Engineer. “Once crews open the roadway under the newly constructed bridge, this direct connection between Los Patrones Parkway and State Route 241 will improve traffic flow, enhance safety and support regional mobility.”
When complete, the Oso Parkway Bridge Project and new roadway will allow northbound Los Patrones Parkway drivers to directly access the 241 Toll Road instead of having to use an off-ramp, wait at a signalized intersection and, then, use an on-ramp to access the 241 Toll Road.
The final project will improve traffic flow and enhance safety for drivers traveling to and from the 241 Toll Road and Rancho Mission Viejo and surrounding areas. It will also improve access, enhance traffic flow and safety, and improve pedestrian access to and from Tesoro High School.
“I am proud that TCA has continued its efforts to improve regional mobility by funding this project and partnering with the County of Orange to oversee its construction. The enhanced mobility in terms of driving, walking and biking, along with access to Tesoro High School, is a big win for the community,” said Christina Shea, Mayor of Irvine and Chairwoman of TCA’s Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency.
Project construction began in August 2018 and completion is expected in October 2020. Remaining construction activities include final preparations of on- and off-ramps, overhead signs, grading slopes, completing draining, relocating utilities and miscellaneous electrical work.
Orange County Public Works, in partnership with Caltrans, is overseeing the construction contract led by Ortiz Enterprises. The nearly $40 million project is funded by TCA’s Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA).
For more information on the project, visit OCPublicWorks.com/OsoBridge. For construction updates, follow The Toll Roads on Facebook and Twitter.
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.
