Fast-tracking roadway improvements

A bridge over Jamboree Road. A wider University Drive. More synchronized lights.

A bridge over Jamboree Road. A wider University Drive. More synchronized lights.

These are just some of the 72 key transportation projects – totaling about $200 million – Irvine city leaders are focused on to help local traffic flow.

Traffic has been lighter during the pandemic, so the city took the opportunity to accelerate numerous projects. This has led to some projects tracking ahead of schedule.

That includes the widening of University Drive between MacArthur Boulevard at Campus Drive. This $20 million improvement project adds new lanes to reduce traffic and enhances streetlight
systems for better flow.

Other high-profile projects include a new pedestrian bridge at Jamboree Road and Michelson Drive. The 150-foot bridge will increase the flow of vehicles while allowing pedestrians to walk freely across the street – without waiting. Another bridge is also in design to span Interstate 5 at Jeffrey Road, closing a gap on the Jeffrey Open Space Trail.

These projects are funded through a variety of programs, including federal grants and Measure M2 funds from the Orange County Transportation Authority.

For a full list of transportation improvement projects, visit the city’s website at cityofirvine.org.