Widening the 91?

The 91 Freeway through the Santa Ana Canyon area is one of Southern California's worst commutes. But now the Orange County Register is reporting that a major widening project could be in the offing:

Orange County could collect nearly $218 million to widen the 91 freeway and improve several rail crossings under a state program intended to offset the impacts of increasing port traffic.

The California Transportation Commission will decide in April how to divvy up some $3 billion in bond money approved by voters in 2006. A funding recommendation released by the commission this week includes eight Orange County projects.

One of those projects would add a westbound lane to the 91 Freeway, between the 5 and 57 freeways. The other projects involve building railroad under- or over-crossings at busy intersections, so that trains can pass through without stopping traffic.