I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project
Overview
Interstate 405 (I-405) is one of the principal north-south interstate highways in Southern California. Heavily traveled by commuters and freight haulers, the I-405 has earned its place as one of the busiest and most congested freeways in the world, and the most congested in the United States.
The I-405 is the primary access route connecting the area of South Los Angeles County with the San Fernando Valley. The Corridor begins in the City of Irvine, in Orange County, and stretches to the City of Los Angeles near the community of Mission Hills in Los Angeles County. The I-405 serves as the main transportation artery for the coastal, Westside and San Fernando Valley communities.
As a result of traffic volume increases, non-standardized lane widths, and a lack of HOV lanes, the stretch of the I-405 between approximately the I-10 and the US-101, experiences heavy traffic congestion and above average accident rates. The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project proposes the widening of lanes on this stretch of the freeway, adding a 10-mile HOV lane and building/improving support infrastructure such as ramps, bridges and sound walls.
A completed environmental impact report led to a Record of Decision in May 2008.
Project Partners for the Public’s Advantage
Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) and Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) are partners for this project with a shared perspective for success. The combined expertise of these two agencies with Metro as the contracting entity and Caltrans providing technical review is structured for optimum performance and earliest possible delivery of a completed project.
Project Objectives
Metro’s objectives for the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project are shaped by stakeholders and commuters along the I-405 corridor that include developing transportation projects that will:
- Improve air quality
- Improve mobility, congestion and safety
- Protect wildlife
In addition to improving mobility and reducing congestion and air pollution, Metro ensures the future needs of highway commuters by:
- Adding a 10-mile HOV lane to the northbound I-405 between the I-10 freeway and Ventura Boulevard
- Widening the I-405
- Realigning some existing on and off ramps
- Removing and replacing three bridge structures
- Construct 21 structures (bridges and ramps)
- Constructing approximately 18 miles of retaining and sound walls
- Performing road improvements on adjacent City streets
Preliminary Schedule
- Issue Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – Third Quarter, 2008
- RFQs Due –Third Quarter, 2008
- Issue Invitation for Bid (IFB) - Third Quarter, 2008
- Bids Due – Fourth Quarter, 2008
- Notice of Intent to Award - First Quarter, 2009
- Notice of Award – First Quarter, 2009
- Issue Notice to Proceed – First Quarter, 2009
- Ground breaking – Second Quarter, 2009