URS Corp., San Francisco, has been named lead designer for the $400 million reconstruction of Rte. 22 in Orange County, Calif. The project is being carried out on a design-build basis, led by a joint venture that includes Granite Construction Co., C.C. Myers Inc. and Steve P. Rados Inc.
Rte. 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, is a vital east-west route linking five major freeways and several arterial corridors in central Orange County. It covers approximately 12 miles and extends through four cities. The freeway, which has not been improved since it was built in the 1960s, handles more than 200,000 vehicles a day on an infrastructure designed to accommodate 115,000.
The Orange County Transportation Authority initiated the project to improve traffic flow, remove bottlenecks and enhance safety on the corridor. One HOV carpool lane will be added in each direction in addition to continuous auxiliary lanes. The project also includes 32 bridge structures, 83 retaining walls and sound walls, 51 ramps and 317 utility crossings.
Construction began with the groundbreaking ceremony held on Sept. 22, and work is scheduled for substantial completion by Thanksgiving 2006.
