Interstate 10 and Interstate 605 Interchange Construction

[andy3175]

http://www.sgvtribune.com/general-news/20140324/construction-on-605-10-freeway-interchange-used-as-a-new-model-for-future-road-projects

The new overhead ramp scheduled to open in 2015 links the southbound 605 to the eastbound 10 and puts a stop to the chaotic switch between the two freeways traveled by more than 400,000 people every day.

Locals say they steer clear of the area whenever possible and commuters dread the daily bottleneck caused by the poorly designed interchange.

Freeway connector ramps like the 605-10's nearly mile-long, one-lane flyover exist throughout Los Angeles County, but this project will affect all future roadways across California by altering the way Caltrans builds.

More than just a traffic fix, the $78 million connector acts as one of 10 in a state-wide pilot program for a less expensive method of building called design-build, where one contractor handles the planning and construction.

The 605-10 interchange is the first design-build project in California funded exclusively with tax dollars, according to Caltrans.

The program approved by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009 selected 10 state road projects on a first-come first-served basis, including three in Los Angeles County and one in San Bernardino County.

The other local projects include the addition of ExpressLanes on the 10 and 110 freeways throughout the county, the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge in Long Beach and improvements to the Devore Interchange – where the 15 and 215 freeways meet – in the Inland Empire.

An attempt to use voter-approved transportation bonds to build the connector failed in 2006, forcing local and state leaders to find an alternative funding source. The project languished for years before the ground-breaking in December 2012.

[rschen7754]

Went through there today and it was still under construction. I also had to cut across two lanes in about 1000 feet to get from the south I-605 to the east I-10...

[Occidental Tourist]

Does anyone know why they didn't address the weaving issue for the n/b 605 when they did the redesign?  Are the ADT counts on that side too low?