Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In

costa_mesa.jpg
The Connection Between the Costa Mesa Freeway and I-73

From an article in Today's LA Times on the chronic congestion problems on the Costa Mesa Freeway in Orange County, an Orange County mayor comes so close to figuring out the problem with trying to widen your way out of congestion:

Tustin Mayor Jerry Amante said the traffic on the 55, which cuts through the western part of his city, "is one of the worst bottlenecks in the county."

"We've widened and widened and widened . . . over and over again," he said. "It has given us the most capacity we can get, and really, now we're just tinkering with the margins."

All those road widening projects and still congestion persists.  But don't worry people of the OC, the Times reports that CALTRANS has the answer:

The state is planning to build three auxiliary lanes in the bottleneck area -- a project scheduled to run from 2010 to 2014...

Can someone remind me, what's the definition of insanity again?

Photo:Bigmikelakers/flickr

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Rosemead Creates Subcommittee on Bus Rapid Transit with Neighboring Cities

After a contentious city council meeting, the motion passed.

March 13, 2026

Friday’s Headlines

LAX rental car center, Traci Park, Merced Greenway, Metro operations, car-nage and more

March 13, 2026

Reading Changes in City Streets

Markings on cities streets can sometimes reveal what used to be there

March 12, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines

Record heat, parking, Ohio Ave., Measure ULA, Culver City, gas prices, car-nage, and more

March 12, 2026

Eyes on the Street: New Stations on Metro D Line Extension Section 2

After this May's D Line section 1 opening, there's more D to come! The D is growing longer! Check out photos of new station erection... er... construction today in Beverly Hills and Century City

March 11, 2026
See all posts