Santa Ana Gateway Project (I-5) named Freeway Project of the Year

The Santa Ana (I-5) Gateway Project that widened the last two miles of the I-5 near the Orange County line was named Freeway Project of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation, a charitable transportation organization.

The California Transportation Foundation recognized the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Caltrans for the complexity of the four-year project, which doubled the size of the I-5 through Buena Park, and the positive impact it made on improving travel through the area for drivers.

“The success of the I-5 Gateway Project shows how true collaboration and partnership results in a great project,” said Will Kempton, CEO of OCTA, in a written statement announcing the I-5 honor. “Both during construction and in the final product, maintaining that connection helped to ensure the tremendous success of this project.”

The $335 million project was the final link in the original Measure M freeway improvement program and added two lanes in each direction between the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) and the county line, reconstructed bridges and improved on-ramps and off-ramps.

The project helped ease congestion on the stretch of freeway traveled by an average of 172,000 vehicles a day.