Despite recent rainstorms, Orange County transportation officials said major delays are being avoided with some of their biggest projects, such the widening of the 405 Freeway and the construction of the OC Streetcar.

With most of the Orange County Transportation Authority’s projects, potential delays caused by weather are built into the schedule and the current rainy spell, while it might cause delays to the day-to-day schedule, has yet to affect the overall timelines, spokesman Eric Carpenter said.

Work is continuing where possible on the 405 improvement project, he said. Lanes being added between the 73 and 605 freeways are still scheduled to be opened to drivers later this year and the overall project timeline has not changed, he said.

The $2.09 billion widening project is turning the five-lane freeway into seven lanes for 16 miles – opening another general-purpose lane in each direction and introducing tolled express lanes. Eighteen bridges are also being upgraded as part of the project, which launched in 2018.

Crews are also working around the recent storms to get Orange County’s first modern-day streetcar running by next year, although some work including some rail installation has been delayed because of the rain and pooling water.  The $509 million streetcar line will run 4 miles between the Santa Ana train station and Garden Grove with 10 stops each direction.

Work on the 55 Freeway improvement project had been scheduled only on weekdays, but anticipating the rain, crews have continued working during dry weekends to keep the schedule moving forward, Carpenter said. The $475 million project will add a second carpool lane and a new regular lane in both directions.

The recent storms have had the most effect on emergency track stabilization work in San Clemente, as crew members hurry to dry out the work area between rain events, officials said.

Crews have been working to install a second row of ground anchors to secure the hillside next to the coastal track. This has been difficult to complete because it is in such a low-lying area.

The work in that area is currently scheduled to finish in mid-April. Passenger service has been affected since movement in the track was detected in September.

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