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New Eastbound Lane Opens On 91 Freeway

ANAHEIM (CBS) — Commuters rejoice! A new lane will be officially opened Thursday on the Riverside (91) Freeway, which transportation officials hope will relieve congestion between Orange and Riverside counties.

The project, which began last November, added a new eastbound lane for six miles from the Foothill (241) Toll Road to the Chino Valley (71) Freeway.

The $65-million project began last November and was finished on time and nearly on budget, Orange County Transportation Authority spokesman Joel Zlotnik said.

The new lane opened to commuters at 4 a.m. Thursday.

About 300,000 daily trips are recorded on that stretch of freeway now and officials expect that number to grow to 425,000 a day by 2030.

This was the county's first project funded by the federal economic stimulus plan. Nearly $48 million will come from the federal government, and $12 million in revenue from express lanes on the freeway and $5 million from the Riverside County Transportation Commission will cover the difference, Zlotnik said.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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