Q: Hey Honk: Driving in the northbound 405 Express Lanes on Friday afternoon we came to a complete stop approaching the 22 Freeway. It took us 15 minutes to go two miles in stop-and-go traffic. No accident, just a lot of cars merging. At that point, traffic in the regular lanes was traveling at normal speeds. The reason I pay for the service is to avoid the stop-and-go mess, not to join it. I think our friends should drop the charges when forced to slow down and stop during those times. What say you?
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– Doug Ferguson, La Palma
A: Honk and Mrs. Honk took a traffic beating a recent Friday on the northbound 241 Toll Road approaching the 91 Freeway, and hit a bit of turbulence on the 91 Express Lanes.
He just looked at it as gambling, knowing those routes are usually the best options, but tollways sometimes aren’t worth the cash. But he certainly gets your perspective, Doug.
This is what the Orange County Transportation Authority, which manages the 405 and 91 express lanes in O.C., says:
“The 405 Express Lanes is designed to provide drivers with a faster, more reliable trip, and toll rates are adjusted based on traffic conditions to help maintain free-flowing travel,” a spokesperson, Eric Carpenter, said via email. “However, there are times when traffic can slow because of incidents, vehicles merging or other circumstances beyond our control.
“While tolls are not typically refunded for routine congestion, customers may be eligible for a toll credit when delays result from a documented incident,” he said. “We encourage customers who experience significant delays or have concerns about a specific trip to contact 405 Express Lanes customer service, at www.405ExpressLanes.com, so their individual circumstances can be reviewed.”
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Q: Dear Honk: It’s the starting pistol that never fires! It seems like we have been waiting YEARS for the dedicated exit lane to reopen from the southbound 5 Freeway onto Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. For a long time, crews were actively working on it — now it seems completely done, but the lane is still blocked off with K-rail. Why are they teasing us?
– Mark Speros, San Juan Capistrano
A: That starting pistol will be staying in its holster for a few more months, Mark.
The closure of a segment of that far-right lane means there is one lane, not two, leading to the two-lane ramp exit. The work is part of a $31 million project that started in January to improve drainage. A previous project also kept that segment closed.
Late this year, the K-rail will hopefully take a hike there.
“Caltrans expects the drainage work to be completed by the end of this year, barring any emergencies, such as traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or materials, and/or construction-related issues,” Nathan Abler, a Caltrans spokesperson, said in an email. “When the project is completed, the Ortega Highway off-ramp will be restored to its original condition.”
The entire project is slated to end in April 2027.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at [email protected]. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
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