The West County Connectors Project was initiated by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to link high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes/carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) with those on the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) and San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) to create a seamless HOV connection amongst the three freeways. The project traverses the cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Long Beach and the community of Rossmoor.
The project will also:
- Construct two direct HOV connectors
- Add a second HOV lane in each direction on I-405 between the SR-22 and the I-605; Reconstruct the Valley View Street Bridge (over SR-22)
- Reconstruct the Seal Beach Blvd. Bridge
- Reconstruct the Northbound I-405/Westbound SR-22/7th St. Connector
- Reconstruct on- and off-ramps
- Construct soundwalls and retaining walls at various locations
- Add landscaping and enhance aesthetic elements
PacRim’s staff responsibilities included, but were not limited to, observing the contractors work and providing directions when necessary to ensure compliance with the plans and standard specifications. In addition, the staff was tasked with resolving any issues hindering the construction, documenting the daily construction activities, reviewing the contractor’s work, measuring its progress, authorizing the monthly payments, performing and assisting RE and other key staff. The daily tasks were to ensure that the project was built in accordance with plans and standards. The staff got involved in many of the construction activities such as earthwork, paving, drainage, striping, safety measures, signage, bridge demolition, bridge construction, retaining walls, traffic control, public complaints, coordination with Highway Patrol, and the local community.