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OCTA board delays 405 widening contract

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The Orange County Transportation Authority’s board of directors agreed this week to delay until February a vote on whether to approve a contract with state authorities that would pave the way toward widening the 405 Freeway.

The nearly $43-million contract with the California Department of Transportation would provide construction inspection services and other oversight of the 405 developments.

Some directors during Monday’s meeting cited long-standing concerns about using county funds to create toll lanes.

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“The vote for this agreement is an unequivocal vote for toll roads on the 405,” said director Todd Spitzer, who objects to toll lanes on the 405.

Other directors were concerned that with the delay, construction costs would continue to face inflationary increases of an estimated $3 million a month.

The 405 widening project is planned for two phases. The estimated $1.3-billion first step would be to construct a general-purpose lane between Euclid Street in Fountain Valley and the 605 Freeway interchange near Rossmoor. The first phase would be funded by Measure M2, a half-cent sales tax to fund county transportation projects.

The estimated $400-million second phase would consist of toll lanes between the 73 Freeway in Costa Mesa and the 605 interchange. State funding for this phase has not been identified yet, according to OCTA officials.

—Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint

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