Key SR-91 highway upgrade underway in California

In the 972 US State of California, construction is now underway for the State Route 91 (SR-91) Corridor Improvement Project. This improved section for SR-91 will run through the Corona and Riverside, both of which are located in Riverside County. The project will extend the SR-91 Tolled Express Lanes in Orange County into Riverside County, a distance of 17.6km. This includes a 13km stretch into Riverside County on SR-91, with a 5km flyover connecting to Interstate 15 from SR-91. Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) has hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the project. 3220 Parsons is acting as project and construction manager for this US$1.3 billion upgrade and is providing services including supporting RCTC in negotiating various co-operating agency and other third-party agreements. Parsons is also working on procurement of the design-build, toll systems integration, and toll facility operator contracts and acquisition of the project right-of-way. In addition, Parsons has already assisted RCTC with developing the project’s capital and operating expenses and project schedule leading to the setting up of the financial Agency Public-Private Partnership model. This deal included a $421 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan, $177 million in toll revenue bonds, and more than $670 million in RCTC-contributed equity. The SR-91 Project will add regular lanes, tolled express lanes, and auxiliary lanes as well as improve interchanges, bridges, ramps, and local streets. Construction will begin in early 2014, and the new lanes are expected to open in 2017. Nearly 280,000 vehicles travel SR-91 daily, and this number is expected to grow by another 140,000 vehicles by 2035. Once completed, the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project will help improve transportation and reduce traffic delays.