A major triple-bored road tunnel project has been proposed in southern California to alleviate the terrible congestion in the region, particularly in Orange County.
The estimated US$3bn-US$3.5bn TriTunnel Express project will include the construction of three 20km long parallel tunnels, with each tube about 14m in diameter. It will pass under the Santa Ana mountains and will also carry a light rail system, water pipes, oil and other utilities.
Financed by tolls, the tunnel will connect the SR-133/241 intersection in Orange County with the Cajalco Rd/I15 intersection. It will knock 40km off the current distance and reduce the journey time to 15 minutes.
Freight will use a rail system similar to the one used on the Channel Tunnel between England and France, where trucks will be transported on the back of a train.
The expected geology along the tunnel’s alignment consists of four faults, sedimentary soft rock, and igneous and metamorphic hard rock. TBMs are the likely method of construction.
Although only in conceptual stage, the project has been warmly received by many organisations and businesses. It has been said that as an independent economy, Orange County would rank 31st in the world, but many argue that the congested road network in this part of California is seriously damaging this premise.
The main problem is that while Orange County enjoys high employment, cheaper housing can be found in nearby Riverside County, meaning a daily migration of 250,000 workers, which clogs up the connecting 91 Freeway.
Supporting the scheme, Jack Wagner, executive director of the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, said: “We are facing a fiscal crisis in California today, and we will be confronted with a mobility crisis in Orange County within seven years if we don’t take action soon.”
Related Files
TriTunnel
