The Metro Board of Directors last Thursday approved a $679 million life-of-project budget for the I-5 North County Enhancements Project.

This project is designed to improve the operations and safety of the freeway corridor, improve the movement of freight and people, and accommodate expected growth between Santa Clarita and Castaic in large part through the addition of one HOV lane in each direction, along with other improvements in this 14-mile corridor.

In addition to new HOV lanes in both directions, improvements include a two-mile extension of truck lanes, improvements to auxiliary lanes at multiple locations and the replacement of the Weldon Canyon Bridge. These improvements will enhance safety on the freeway by removing trucks from the general-purpose lanes and adding more space for merging.

Metro is managing the project in partnership with Caltrans. It will be funded through a combination of Measure R and Measure M funding specifically set aside for road and highways projects, along with SB1 and federal dollars. Thursday’s vote allows Metro’s CEO to execute a contract and begin working toward starting construction.

Metro expects the project to break ground in early summer and it is expected to be completed in 2026.

For more information about the I-5 North County Enhancements Project, visit https://www.metro.net/projects/i-5-enhancements/.