LAKE FOREST : City Opposes Proposal for Freeway Overpass

The city is opposing an Interstate 5 overpass at Ridge Route Drive, which opponents say could flood quiet neighborhoods with traffic.

The City Council authorized the hiring of a traffic consultant to develop an alternative to the Ridge Route overpass, which is being funded by county Measure M transportation funds.

Ridge Route now dead-ends at Interstate 5. City officials and residents fear the overpass would turn Ridge Route into a major thoroughfare.

“If we don’t do something, 20,000 cars (a day) will be passing by seven schools,” Councilman Tim Link said.

City officials said county plans show Ridge Route Drive would become a four-lane primary highway between Moulton Parkway and Rockfield Boulevard and carry 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles daily.

In order to change or cancel the overpass project, the city needs to work with the county to develop a cooperative study agreement. Council members authorized $35,000 to pay for traffic consultant services.

The overpass was strongly opposed by Joe Inzitari, president of the Lake Forest I Homeowners Assn., which represents 1,700 homes.

“We will do whatever we have to do to get this off the docket,” said Inzitari, who said he also represents the views of the 3,500-home Lake Forest II Homeowners Assn. “If we need to do something politically, we’ll do that. If it’s a class-action suit, we’ll do that.”