La Pata Avenue / Del Rio Project Description
Project Description:
The County of Orange in May of 2011 completed preliminary alignment and environmental studies for a proposed project that would extend the existing 1.8-mile portion of La Pata Avenue south of Ortega Highway, outside the City of San Juan Capistrano, roughly two miles to connect with La Pata Avenue in San Clemente at Calle Saluda. The approved project alignment is currently under design. Design completion is expected by the end of 2012.
The project would close the "gap" between the two roadway segments– providing an essential link in the local roadway network. The proposed project will traverse parts of San Clemente, the unincorporated areas of the County and is also adjacent to San Juan Capistrano.
La Pata Avenue Gap Closure's northern point starts just south of Ortega Highway at its intersection with Antonio Parkway and La Pata Avenue. From this point, La Pata Avenue currently continues south as an existing three lane paved roadway through unincorporated territory, just east of the City of San Juan Capistrano. The County is proposing to add two new lanes to this section of roadway for a total of five lanes (including a climbing lane for vehicles bound for the landfill site).This roughly 1.8-mile existing section of La Pata Avenue ends at the County's Prima Deshecha Landfill site. From that point, a new four-lane La Pata Avenue would extend south just east of the existing Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric power-line corridor.
The proposed project remains east of the power-line facilities as currently shown on the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) as it enters San Clemente's northern City limits. As the proposed project nears the Talega residential development, the roadway curves west away from the Talega development as it crosses the power-line corridor. The proposed project maintains a minimum of 350 feet from the nearest residential property to La Pata Avenue. Preliminary engineering cross sections are shown herein for representative locations to demonstrate the relative location of the roadway to existing homes in Talega. The proposed roadway is in a cut section and not visible from the homes. The proposed roadway is either blocked by intervening topography or proposed earth berms. Shortly after it crosses the power-line corridor, it turns south to connect with existing La Pata Avenue at Calle Saluda in San Clemente. The proposed improvements provide access to Avenida Vista Hermosa, Avenida Pico and Ortega Highway. A new meandering six foot wide multi-purpose trail is planned for the eastern side of La Pata between Calle Saluda and Vista Montana. Existing trail connections will be maintained.
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