Q: Will they build a wildlife crossing over the 5 Freeway in Irvine as well as the pedestrian bridge? Other places in Orange County would be good, too. Are any planned?
– Carol Clayman, Irvine
A: Not there.
Carol is referring to the $23 million, 1,200-foot-long Jeffrey Open Space Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge, which will open in a year and connect trails for two-legged critters.
Honk isn’t aware of any plans for a wildlife crossing over an Orange County freeway.
Robert Johnson, a Caltrans spokesman, said the agency works with other local and federal agencies to see if they can help wildlife move about.
“This includes making small changes, like improving vegetation in the area or reducing light and noise pollution,” he said.
A decade ago, a fence reaching up to 12 feet high — and buried 2 feet below the surface — was put in along the 241 Toll Road in the Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills area to keep mountain lions from trying to cross the highway.
“There are many under-crossings across the county allowing for wildlife movement,” Johnson added.
But, Carol, to the north in Agoura Hills, work is well underway on the $92 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing that will span the 101 Freeway and open next year. It will be covered by dirt and plants so mountain lions, deer, desert cottontails, bobcats and other animals can safely go over the highway to another large patch of nature.
Caltrans was heavily involved, with donations covering a lot of the bill.
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– Scott Mann
A: Improvements are on the drawing board — but Honk will have long been in a hammock, buying his lemonade with Social Security checks by the time they get done.
A regular lane on both sides of the 405 is coming to that 8.5-mile jaunt that cuts across Irvine, between the El Toro Y — the nickname for where the 5 and 405 freeways shake hands — and the 55.
Eventually.
The environmental study was finished in 2018, which is a key step, but when construction will start isn’t decided.
The price tag will be an estimated $270 million.
Joel Zlotnik, a spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority, said the half-cent transportation sales tax in the county will at least partially cover the bill, and the state and federal governments might kick in some cash as well.
“While no timeline has been set for construction, we expect it will be completed by 2041 as promised to voters in the sales-tax (ballot) measure,” he said.
By the way, Scott, Zlotnik added this:
“Thanks to the Honk reader, we’re going to make some changes to the website (octa.net) and make sure it has the most up-to-date information.”
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
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