It’s springtime in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are back, the flowers are blooming, and the Caltrans road crews are fueled up and ready with an aggressive battle plan to tackle repairs on L.A. area freeways.
If it seems like there are always more repair projects in the spring and summer across the country, you’re not wrong. While L.A. isn’t impacted by snow, construction always seems to heat up with the warmer weather. In fact, Caltrans tells KTLA that it currently has more than 50 projects lined up, which are anticipated to begin this spring and summer.
Just some of the freeways on the list: the 5, 405, 710, 101, 118, and more. Here are some of the most notable projects according to Caltrans:
Interstate 5 Pavement Rehabilitation Project in North Los Angeles County
This project is intended to pave more than 110 lane miles of I-5 from Castaic to Pyramid Lake. Other work includes installing more than 81,000 linear feet of guardrail, paving shoulders, paving the median at the “snow gate,” and installing rumble strips on the shoulders. Construction is anticipated to start in the summer of 2025 on this $61.1 million project.
Interstate 405 Pavement Rehabilitation
This $125.6 million project will rehabilitate pavement on Interstate 405 from the Orange/Los Angeles County line to the I-405/State Route 110 interchange. The main goal of this project is to extend the pavement life as well as increase safety features, improve structural integrity, and reduce future maintenance. Work will include repaving 92 lane miles, sign and lighting rehabilitation, bridge work, drainage system restoration, ADA pedestrian infrastructure, and Complete Streets elements. Construction is expected to start in the summer.
The I-710/Florence Ave. interchange in the city of Bell
This approximately $4.4 million project aims to improve pedestrian and bicyclist mobility by installing various safety features, including regulatory and warning signs, pavement markings, and pedestrian crosswalk systems, upgrading curb ramps and sidewalks to current ADA standards, and restriping ramp lane configurations. Construction is expected to start this summer.
State Route 101 from south of Pilgrimage Overcrossing Bridge to SR-170
This approximately $28.2 million project will preserve and extend the life of the existing pavement using asphalt overlay and replacing damaged pavement along 3.9 miles of State Route 101. Other improvements include replacing the metal beam guardrail with the Midwest guardrail and upgrading curb ramps, curbs and dikes, guardrails, and a crash cushion. Construction is expected to begin in late spring.
State Route 118 Arroyo Simi Bridge, Suicide Prevention Project
Concerned about potential increases in suicide attempts, Caltrans, the city of Moorpark, and Ventura County highlighted the urgent need for safety barrier systems to help prevent future tragedies. The proposed improvements would see the installation of suicide deterrent fences along the outside edges of both bridges. Construction is expected to begin in spring/summer 2025, with completion estimated to be in December 2025.
Caltrans says all projects are set for spring and summer, but it also points out that changes in design, conflicts with other projects, and contract issues can always lead to changes.