Newly Expanded 91 Freeway Opens In Corona
CORONA (CBSLA.com) — Motorists now have additional lanes to use while driving in both directions on the busy 91 Freeway in Corona.
The newly constructed lanes, which were built as part of the three-year-old $1.4 billion widening project, opened between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Monday.
One additional general purpose lane and two additional express toll lanes are available to drivers on both sides of the 91 Freeway between the 71 Expressway and Interstate 15.
Transportation officials on Monday said they've been pleased so far with how traffic has flowed.
Drivers were generally excited to have the additional lanes.
"The drive down here this morning was amazing, I'm quite happy about it," one driver, Celia Anderson, said.
Another driver said paying tolls to avoid traffic could actually help preserve his sanity.
"For me, my sanity, yes it's worth it," the driver, Cari McCamey, said. "I would pay any kind of money to get home faster to my family."
But others said they're not planning to pay for the express lanes, which can cost as much as $13.20 during peak hours for a trip from the 55 Freeway in Orange County to the 15 Freeway in Riverside County.
"Locals aren't going to pay $10 for rush hour," another driver, Jaime Rojas, said. "It's crazy."
The express lanes will free, or available at reduced cost, for cars carrying at least three people.
A formal ceremony marking the end of major construction will be held on March 31.
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