Pacific Infrastructure 405 Designers Move Forward with Planning and Design of Critical Southern California Freeway I-405 Improvement Project

ORANGE, Calif., June 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 370,000 drivers who travel Interstate 405 in Southern California every day can look forward to relief from the intimidating traffic conditions they have faced on the freeway for years.

The $1.9 billion I-405 Improvement Project is being led by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in partnership with Caltrans, aims to shorten commute times for hundreds of thousands of motorists. OCTA has contracted with OC 405 Partners, a joint venture between OHL USA, Inc. and Astaldi Construction Corporation, to construct the design-build project.

The expansion project will improve 16 miles of I-405 between the SR-73 freeway in Costa Mesa and I-605 near the L.A. County line. The project includes adding one regular lane in each direction from Euclid Street to I-605 and making improvements to freeway entrances, exits, and bridges. It also will construct the 405 Express Lanes—incorporating the existing carpool lanes will give solo drivers the choice to speed up their commute for a toll, and carpoolers may ride in the lanes for free.

By 2040, traffic volume on I-405 is expected to increase significantly. The I-405 Improvement Project will increase freeway capacity, improve traffic and interchange operations, and enhance road safety that meet state and federal standards.

Richard Prust, Arup Principal and Project Director, said, "Arup, as part of Pacific Infrastructure 405 Designers, is extremely excited to be joining with OC 405 Partners and with OCTA and Caltrans to deliver this important project for the many communities of Orange County. We understand that designing and delivering this complex project will require complete collaboration between all parties, and that total dedication is critical to achieving OCTA's vision for the improvements to this important transportation corridor."

"The start-up of a large design-build project can be particularly challenging, as design, construction, and owner-side teams are mobilized and work together," said Scott Lucas, Design Manager, H.W. Lochner. "Considering the size and complexity of this project, the cooperation, partnering, and collaboration between all the various entities has been remarkable. The I-405 project has been exemplary in establishing and maintaining a one-team atmosphere that promotes project progress."

"The entire project team is devoted to the successful delivery of the I-405 Improvement Project and highly motivated to be a part of this essential development that will provide great relief to the growing needs of Southern California," said Moffatt & Nichol president and CEO, Eric Nichol.

About H.W. Lochner
Founded in 1944, H.W. Lochner, Inc. provides planning, environmental, design, construction management, and right of way services for surface transportation, rail, transit, and aviation infrastructure clients. The employee-owned firm is home to more than 500 professionals throughout the U.S. who are client focused and performance driven. Lochner excels at delivering transportation infrastructure solutions throughout the U.S. With a history of pioneering innovative approaches, project teams collaborate with public and private industry clients to plan, evaluate, design, and implement progressive concepts that maximize budgets, expedite schedules, extend asset life spans, and provide efficiencies though impact and maintenance reductions. Learn more at www.hwlochner.com.

About Moffatt & Nichol
Moffatt & Nichol is a global infrastructure advisory firm of approximately 650 employees in 35 offices throughout seven countries delivering practical solutions to clients in marine terminal, transportation, energy, environmental, federal, and urban development markets worldwide. Founded in 1945, Moffatt & Nichol is a multidiscipline professional services firm specializing in design planning, oversight, and design-build services for all aspects of highway, grade separation, and bridge design, including rehabilitation, permitting, seismic retrofit, and foundations. Moffatt & Nichol has prepared final PS&Es for the construction of more than 700 highway and bridge projects throughout California and is consistently ranked as an ENR Top 100 design firm. Bringing creativity and innovation to each endeavor, Moffatt & Nichol's project portfolio features complex and challenging assignments, including some of the busiest interchanges, cargo routes, and most heavily traveled roadways and bridges. For additional information, visit www.moffattnichol.com.

About Arup
The preeminent provider of engineering, consulting, planning, design, and technical specialist services in the built environment, Arup aims to do the best quality work across diverse specialties to deliver value to its clients and achieve a positive impact on our world. The firm opened its first US office over 30 years ago and now employs 1,400 people in the Americas. Since its founding in 1946, members of Arup have developed transformative ways of working with its clients. The firm's unique version of employee-ownership promotes long-term thinking and significant investment in research and innovation for the benefit of its clients. For additional information, visit Arup's website at www.arup.com and the online magazine of Arup in the Americas at doggerel.arup.com.

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SOURCE Arup

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