Newport prepares for road changes

Major construction on widening the streets near Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach should begin by October, city officials said.

Thanks to a $3.65-million payment into Newport Beach city coffers within the next 20 days from Irvine, the face of the Jamboree Road corridor just south of the 73 Freeway will begin to change.

The money is part of a settlement between Newport Beach and Irvine. Newport Beach was suing Irvine, claiming its environmental study for its Irvine Business Complex, that includes 15,000 residential units, did not adequately address the affects it would have on local traffic, specifically near Jamboree and MacArthur.

The settlement approved Tuesday night throws out all four of the city’s lawsuits against Irvine in exchange for the $3.65 million, which goes to traffic improvements to deal with the inevitable traffic increase.

Design of a widened Jamboree Road bridge over the 73 Freeway next to Bristol Street was completed in March and approved by CalTrans.

The city is working with three properties nearby to get the right-of-way to expand the streets and are expected to complete that phase by May, officials said.

By June, the city will be advertising the contract and by August, award the contract for widening to a construction company. If all goes to plan, the widening of the bridge should be completed by September 2011.

A month after the bridge is complete, residents should expect to see construction begin on widening Jamboree from Bristol to Fairchild Road.

That widening, which will add a third southbound left turn lane onto MacArthur and a fourth northbound lane toward Fairchild on Jamboree, should be completed March 2012, officials said.

Widening Facts

Jamboree Bridge Widening: Will add a third dedicated through lane to the northbound side toward Bristol Street.

Jamboree Road at MacArthur Boulevard Widening: Will add a fourth northbound lane on Jamboree from Bristol Street to Fairchild Road and a third southbound left turn lane onto MacArthur from Jamboree.