The County of Orange La Pata Gap Connector Ribbon Cutting is Saturday August 13 2016.
The Celebration is from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
The La Pata Gap Connector is the new 2.27-mile four- lane roadway extension.
The connector will provide a direct connection between San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch and other neighboring communities.
“Connecting Communities from the Canyons to the Coast,” event is open to the public.
The La Pata Gap Connector Highlights
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Classic Car Show
Live Music
Food Truck
Family Friendly Free Activities
Vendor Booths
Exhibits
Free Giveaways
The newly connected La Pata Avenue will then open for public use on Sunday, August 14.
Orange County Board of Supervisors Chariwoman Lisa Bartlett stated: “I am very excited to be a part of this milestone project that will help improve mobility within the County and region at large. This new corridor will dramatically reduce travel time by directly connecting people with retail centers, medical facilities, schools, recreational opportunities, emergency evacuation routes, the County’s Prima Deshecha Landfill and more.”
The opening will also provide some timely help as it is expected to greatly cut the commute times for students, parents and staff at nearby San Juan Hills High School, which begins its school year on Monday, August 15. Commuters may experience a 20- to 30-minute reduction in travel time when driving this new route as an alternative to the 5 Freeway.
In addition to Chairwoman Bartlett, the roster of distinguished officials expected to speak at the ribbon cutting ceremony include Pat Bates, Senator, 36th Senate District, Bob Baker, Mayor of San Clemente, Pam Patterson, Mayor of San Juan Capistrano, Lori Donchak, Chair of the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors, Shane Silsby, Director of Orange County Public Works, and Steve Craig, Founder of Craig Realty Group. Congressman Darrell Issa will also be on hand to lead the Pledge of Allegiance
.
OC Public Works and its contractor, Sukut Construction, began construction of the La Pata Extension Project’s first phase, the La Pata Gap Connector, in April of 2014.
Completing this phase of the new roadway included excavation and relocation of approximately 800,000 cubic yards of refuse within the County’s Prima Deshecha Landfill and moving approximately 13 million cubic yards of soil.
The $126.5 million project is fully funded through a combination of funding sources from Rancho Mission Viejo, Communities Facilities Districts, State Measure M and Proposition 1B Funds, the La Pata Road Fee Program, OC Waste & Recycling, County Road Fund (State gas tax) and utility reimbursements.
While the newly extended La Pata Avenue will open on August 14, construction will continue on two other
phases of the overall project:
– more –
• The widening of the existing La Pata Avenue from three lanes to five lanes from just south of Ortega Highway to just south of Stallion Ridge (formerly Vista Montana), with one of those lanes as a new dedicated turn lane into the San Juan Hills High School area to enhance the flow of traffic, and;
• The extension of Camino Del Rio as a four-lane roadway from its existing terminus in the Forster Ranch community in San Clemente to La Pata Avenue
