The COVID-19 pandemic had one unexpected benefit in Orange County — a northbound carpool lane added to the Santa Ana (5) Freeway opened Wednesday four months earlier than expected.
Because of the quarantines intended to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, workers were able to get more done faster than usual, the Orange County Transportation Authority announced.
The project added a second carpool lane in each direction of the Santa Ana Freeway between the Costa Mesa (55) and Orange (57) freeways to help lessen congestion through Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin. The southbound lanes opened last month.
Over the next month, crews are expected to finish the project, including landscaping and signage installation. It was originally expected to be completed early next year.