Construction work has been started on $1bn “I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening” project in California, the largest highway project in US, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The project will utilise $190m in state expedited Recovery Act funding and is expected to create an estimated 18,000 jobs.

I-405 is one of the most congested freeways in the nation that accommodates nearly 280,000 commuters and freight haulers daily.

The project will reduce traffic congestion by constructing ten miles of a new bus/carpool lane from Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) to Ventura Freeway (Highway 101).
Once completed, there will be 72 continuous miles of bus/carpool lanes on I-405 from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County. This lane will save more than 7 million vehicle hours of traffic delay each year.

SB 1026, signed by Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger in January 2006, provided the authorisation to use the design/build strategy to accelerate delivery of this project.

California was the first state to obligate $1bn of Recovery Act funding to transportation infrastructure projects, two months ahead of federal deadline.

California is estimated to receive a total of nearly $2.6bn for highways and local streets, and $1bn for transit projects, from the Recovery Act.