Corner construction will improve intersection’s flow

June Casagrande

Roadwork taking place at the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and

Jamboree Road is expected to significantly improve traffic flow

there, but the work won’t be complete until about June.

“The main purpose of the work is to increase the amount of traffic

that can get through the intersection,” explained Rich Edmonston of

the city’s Public Works department.

The project is a cooperative effort between Newport Beach and the

city of Irvine because it takes place within both cities’ borders.

Changes will include a new right-turn lane from northbound

Jamboree Road onto MacArthur Boulevard. In order to create the turn

lane, which falls within Irvine, that city had to purchase land to

widen the road. The road widening also required a retaining wall to

buffer and reinforce the separator between the roadway and buildings

along MacArthur Boulevard. The retaining wall, which was completed

last week, stretches from Jamboree to Fairchild Road.

“This 12-foot high wall permits the creation of a right-turn

pocket that will reduce waiting time for traffic going northbound in

Jamboree from MacArthur Boulevard,” Public Works Director Steve Badum

wrote in a memo to City Council members.

Relocating water mains, storm trains, telephone lines and traffic

signals was necessary to perform the construction, Badum said. The

project also includes a new bus turnout on MacArthur Boulevard just

west of Jamboree.

The construction costs for the whole project are estimated at

about $1.9 million. The city is paying about $250,000. The rest is

paid for by state transportation grants, the city of Irvine and other

sources.