Deal to Restore Road Projects Is Endorsed

Representatives of a county planning group voted unanimously Thursday to restore two Irvine road improvement projects totaling $920,000, but only if the city approves an agreement to allow construction of the Newport Coast Drive bypass.

Irvine Mayor Michael Ward, who represents the city on the county planning group, called it an acceptable deal. “The only reason we didn’t approve it before was because the county was indirectly making us pay for it,” Ward said.

After approving initial plans for the bypass, the Irvine City Council refused earlier this month to grant the county permission to proceed with construction. Council members objected to county plans to use Measure M road improvement funds from the two Irvine projects to help fund the $10.5-million bypass.

The route, intended to provide a toll-free bypass to the section of Newport Coast Drive incorporated into the San Joaquin Hills toll road, is opposed by residents in the city’s Turtle Rock and University Hills communities. They fear it will bring unacceptable levels of traffic into their neighborhoods.

Under threat of losing Measure M funds, council members approved “a line on the map” for the route last March but pledged not to fund or initiate construction.

The Thursday morning vote is advisory to the Orange County Transportation Authority, which is expected to approve the reinstated projects in early February.

Irvine council members will reconsider the bypass route at their Feb. 13 meeting.