Projects & Initiatives

As Southern California's population increases and the economy grows, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) work to ensure The Toll Roads remain valuable, congestion-free alternatives to local highways.

View TCA's 2022 Capital Improvement Project Report (PDF).

Following are TCA’s current/recent projects and initiatives that enhance regional mobility:

Northbound 241 Channelizer Project: In 2022, the Northbound 241 Channelizer Project will improve traffic flow, prevent queue-jumpers and enhance safety with the installation of vertical channelizer posts between the Windy Ridge Mainline Toll Point and the State Route 91. Construction activities are expected to last approximately 15 days/nights and include new roadway signage, lane striping and the installation of approximately 800 channelizers. The channelizers are a short-term step in mitigating traffic congestion in the area. TCA continues to work with Caltrans, the Orange County Transportation Authority and the Riverside County Transportation Commission on the 241/91 Express Connector Project.

241/91 Express Connector Project: The 241/91 Express Connector Project is a proposed direct connector from the northbound 241 Toll Road to the eastbound 91 Express Lanes and from the westbound 91 Express Lanes to the southbound 241 Toll Road. The median-to-median tolled connector will reduce traffic congestion in both directions, enhance safety by reducing weaving across lanes and improve access to toll lanes in Orange and Riverside Counties.

Oso Parkway Bridge Project: TCA and Orange County Public Works have replaced a portion of Oso Parkway with a new bridge structure to provide motorists with a direct connection between Los Patrones Parkway (a new road connecting with Rancho Mission Viejo) and the 241 Toll Road. The new bridge improves traffic flow and enhances safety on Oso Parkway and direct access to the 241 Toll Road supports traffic flow in the area. The Oso Parkway Bridge Project opened to drivers, pedestrians and the community on January 13, 2021. For more information on the project's virtual grand opening, click here.

South County Traffic Relief Effort: The results of the Scoping Summary and Alternatives Screening Report for the South County Traffic Relief Effort (SCTRE) Project were completed in March 2020 and recommend extending Los Patrones Parkway from Cow Camp Road to Avenida La Pata (Alternative 22 Untolled) for further consideration to provide significant traffic relief with minimal environmental and community impact. The County of Orange is the lead agency to advance this alternative through the remainder of the environmental phase.

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Completed Projects

The first segments of The Toll Roads opened to traffic in the 1990s, with the first segment of the 241 Toll Road opening in 1993 and the 73 Toll Road in 1996. Since the 51-mile system was completed in 1999, TCA has implemented the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to keep pace with increasing traffic demands and changing conditions, land uses and demographics.

Needed capital projects, such as various roadway expansions and operational improvement projects, were first identified in the late 1990s and are updated annually based on priorities. Over the past 20+ years, TCA has completed 17 projects including additional lanes, wildlife safety fencing and All-Electronic Tolling. Completed CIP projects include the following:

1. Constructed the Banderas Bridge Overcrossing, between Antonio Parkway and Santa Margarita Parkway at the 241 Toll Road, to improve traffic circulation within the city of Rancho Santa Margarita.
2. Added a second lane to the Santa Margarita Parkway on-ramp at the 241 Toll Road to accommodate high peak-hour traffic.
3. Widened the 1,500-foot-long Arroyo Trabuco Creek Bridge along the 241 Toll Road to the Ultimate Corridor configuration and added a second exit lane to the Santa Margarita Parkway off-ramp at the 241 Toll Road.
4. Added one additional lane in each direction of the 241 Toll Road between Arroyo Trabuco Creek and Bake Parkway and widened five twin north and southbound bridges to the Ultimate Corridor configuration.
5. Added a third FasTrak lane to the Tomato Springs Mainline Toll Plaza on the 241 Toll Road to address increasing traffic volumes and FasTrak usage.
6. Designed and installed landscape enhancements along the 241 and 261 Toll Roads.
7. Improved toll plaza and water and wastewater systems at three mainline toll plazas along the 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads.
8. Widened the north and southbound 133 Toll Road from the I-5 Freeway to the 241 Toll Road.
9. Widened the Windy Ridge Mainline Toll Plaza by adding a third FasTrak lane in each direction and widened two bridges - the Southern California Edison bridge and Windy Ridge Wildlife bridge - to accommodate increased traffic.
10. Implemented All-Electronic Tolling (AET): TCA discontinued cash collection on the roads in May 2014. Outdated tolling equipment was upgraded with equipment that utilizes license plate tolling for those that do not have a FasTrak account, so everyone can drive non-stop on the roads.
11. Constructed a 6.4-mile-long wildlife safety fence to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions along the 241 Toll Road from Chapman Avenue/Santiago Canyon Road to SR-91 Freeway.
12. Removed 14 toll booths and related toll collection equipment on multi-lane ramps where traffic passes on both sides of existing toll booths to improve traffic and enhance safety.
13. Constructed on- and off-ramps to and from the north at Glenwood/Pacific Park Drive on the 73 Toll Road.
14. Designed and installed landscape enhancements at various interchanges along the 73 Toll Road.
15. Widened nearly six miles of the northbound 73 Toll Road by adding a fourth lane in two locations. The first location is from Aliso Viejo Parkway to Laguna Canyon Road and the second location is from the Catalina View Mainline Toll Plaza to MacArthur Boulevard.
16. Implemented All-Electronic Tolling (AET): TCA discontinued cash collection on the roads in May 2014. Outdated tolling equipment was upgraded with equipment that utilizes license plate tolling for those that do not have a FasTrak account, so everyone can drive non-stop on the roads.