Briefly in the news

Paul Clinton

To clear up heavy congestion caused by summer traffic, the California

Department of Transportation has announced several improvements to the

Costa Mesa Freeway.

Caltrans added an additional lane between the MacArthur Boulevard exit

and the San Diego Freeway interchange. The agency also installed light

meters on the southbound and northbound onramps of MacArthur to regulate

the number of cars coming onto the freeway.

The changes, which Caltrans has already put in place, have begun to

ease traffic already, according to agency spokeswoman Rose Mendoza.

In mid-July, Caltrans will change the carpool lane south of Edinger

Avenue into an all-purpose lane.

The congestion is also due to the agency’s $150-million construction

project to improve traffic flow on the freeway. It began in October 1999

and will be completed in 2004.

The project is co-managed by the Orange County Transportation

Authority. Information: (800) 724-0353.