Bristol Street Widening Project

An Environmental Impact Study was certified in 1990.  This was followed by the Bristol Corridor Specific Plan approved by City Council in 1991 which set design standards for future zoning along the corridor, and established aesthetic guidelines for future development and public improvements.  By 2000, all the funding was in place and construction commenced on the first segment of Bristol, from St. Andrew Place to McFadden Avenue.  Total past, current, and future funding for the project is in the ballpark of $300 million.  The funds come from various federal and regional grants as well as local matching funds.

On November 28, 2005, the OCTA Board committed to seek full funding in the amount of $225 million for the remaining segments of the Bristol Street Widening Project. The funding plan calls for OCTA to program $125 million in OCTA Gas Tax Subvention funds in FY 06-07 and through FY 11-12 with the adoption of the 2006 State Transportation Improvement Program. The funding plan also calls for OCTA to seek the remaining $100 million from other sources, including, but not limited to, federal appropriations, state grants or local funds to complete the Bristol Street widening per the Specific Plan. The OCTA Board approved a cooperative agreement with the City on June 12, 2006.  As part of this cooperative agreement, four additional phases of Bristol were established. 

Three segments of the Bristol Corridor Street Widening Project were completed that were not funded under the OCTA cooperative agreement: 

• The first segment, Saint Andrew Place to McFadden Avenue, was completed in 2002 for a total cost of $44.9 million.

• The second segment, Elm Street to Memory Lane, was completed in 2003 for a total cost of $4.3 million. 

• The third segment, Pine Street to Third Street, was completed in 2009 for a total cost of $19.8 million. 

The following is a breakdown of the status of the four projects funded as part of the OCTA cooperative agreement:

• McFadden Avenue to Pine Street (Phase I): This project was completed in 2011 for a total cost of $52.6 million.

• 3rd Street to Civic Center Drive (Phase II):  This project will widen Bristol on both sides from 3rd Street to Santa Ana Boulevard. Widening from Santa Ana Boulevard north through Civic Center to 10th Street will be accommodated on the west side of Bristol to minimize right-of-way impacts and cost.  Construction is scheduled for summer 2012.  The total project cost is estimated at $47 million.  This phase is fully funded with a combination of OCTA Gas Tax, Measure M2 Arterial Capacity Enhancement (ACE) funds and State Local Partnership Program funds.

• Civic Center Drive to 17th Street (Phase III): This project will widen Bristol from Civic Center Drive to 17th Street and has been separated into two segments for funding purposes.  The environmental document is being updated to make the project eligible for federal funding and is expected to be complete in spring 2012.   

• The first funded segment will widen Bristol from Washington Avenue north to 17th Street on the east side of Bristol to avoid impacts to Santa Ana College.  The design phase is funded with FY 11/12 ACE funds and is underway.  Staff has applied for additional ACE funding for the right-of-way and construction phases for FYs 12/13 and 13/14. Grant funding will be supplemented with OCTA Gas Tax.

• The second segment will widen Bristol on both sides from Civic Center to Washington Avenue.  Staff has applied for ACE funding for the design phase for FY 12/13.  Grant funding will be supplemented with OCTA Gas Tax.

• Bristol and 17th Intersection:  This project is a component of Phase III.  Design is complete and right-of-way is near completion with the demolition of the building on the southeast corner of the intersection scheduled for January 2012. Construction will immediately follow with an estimated completion date of summer 2012.  Funding is provided by OCTA Gas Tax and Measure M Intersection Improvement Program (IIP) funds.

• Warner Avenue to St. Andrew Place (Phase IV):  This project will widen Bristol on both sides from Warner Avenue to Carlton Place. Widening from Carlton Place to St. Andrew Place will be accommodated on the west side of Bristol to align with a previously widened section.  The environmental document is being updated to make the project eligible for federal funding and is expected to be complete in spring 2012.    The bulk of this project is unfunded. Any remaining OCTA Gas Tax funds will be used as match money for federal, state, or local grants. 

• Bristol and Warner Intersection:  This project is a component of Phase IV.  The design and right-of-way phases are complete and construction is underway with an estimated completion date of spring 2012.  Funding is provided by OCTA Gas Tax and IIP funds.

The final segment of the Bristol Corridor Widening Project is 17th Street to Elm Street.  This project will widen Bristol on the east side from 17th Street to 21st Street to minimize impacts to Mendez Intermediate School. Widening from 21st north to Elm will be accommodated on the west side of Bristol to minimize impacts to Santiago Elementary School.  This phase is unfunded and there is no schedule for its implementation.  It is not included in the cooperative agreement with OCTA. 

Click here to view the Implementation Plan.