Tustin Ranch Road Opens
Drivers can now take Tustin Ranch Road straight from the 5 freeway to The District at Tustin Legacy shopping center, a route expected to ease congestion on neighboring roads. The $40 million, 1.4-mile route connects the 5 freeway to The District shopping center.
The extension from Walnut to Warner avenues opened to cars after Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, following 40 years of planning. The $40 million road has three traffic lanes and a bike lane in each direction.
Atop the Edinger Avenue bridge, city officials applauded the new road as a community link. A crowd of between 400 and 500 guests attend the Tustin Ranch Road extension opening which took 40 years to plan and build. Now the road connects from I-5 directly to the District shopping center (Walnut to Warner avenues extension).
“The Tustin Ranch Road Extension is an incredible example of teamwork and cooperation. Most importantly, it could not have been accomplished without the support of our Tustin community,” said Mayor Al Murray. “This project completes a key corridor and will greatly improve traffic flow and bring much needed mobility relief to our residents and neighbors.”
The $40 million road stretches 1.4 miles and will connect Walnut Avenue through to Warner Avenue. Prior to construction of this segment, Tustin Ranch Road ended at Walnut Avenue at the former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) from the north, and at the District Shopping Center from the south.
As early as 1970, transportation planning efforts recognized the need for an extension of the (then) Jamboree Road (later) to become the Tustin Ranch Road Extension, through the Marine Corps Air Station. After the City of Irvine was incorporated in 1971, a general plan land use circulation element was adopted which reflected this extension through MCAS Tustin.
Discussions continued between the City of Tustin, the Marine Corps, the City of Irvine, and the County of Orange regarding the alignment of the road through MCAS
Tustin. In August of 1981, the cities of Irvine and Tustin completed amendments to their respective general plans. The amendments included changes to land use and circulation plans and recommended municipal planning and corporate boundary modifications. With the final MCAS base closure in 1996, this project was then in position to move forward.
In September 2011, the City held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the beginning of the project. Tustin has made a huge commitment & investment in this much needed project. This has been long awaited by both residents of Tustin and those regionally who use north/south routes through the County. Tustin Ranch Road is an essential thoroughfare as Tustin and Tustin Legacy continue to grow.
In 2011 bids for services were collected and Phase 1 of construction began and Sandoval Pipeline Engineering was awarded the contract. Phase 1 was completed in
August of 2012. Phase 2 of construction began in 2012 with the contract going to R.J. Noble Company. Phase 2 included: utilities installation, sound wall construction, bridge work, street improvements, and landscaping.
Saturday’s ceremony included light refreshments provided by the District at Tustin Legacy and a raffle of prizes. Guests were encouraged to take a historic walk or ride on the road before its official opening to vehicles. The road itself opened to vehicles today, Sunday, November 24, 2013.
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