Jamboree/Michelson Bridge Project Update

By Andrew Stein

The Jamboree Michelson bridge project has continued through this summer, and is on schedule to be finished by July 2027. Though the road closures at the light have also persisted and continue to create lots of congestion. This light is an extremely high volume area with many people having no way to avoid it on their way to work. Especially with road closure on the other entrance into my housing complex, all of the residents who live here have to use that traffic light. 

The road closures on the dedicated right-turn lane on Southbound Jamboree Road to westbound Michelson Drive and also the dedicated right-turn lane on Westbound Michelson Drive to northbound Jamboree Road. These right turn closures have caused lots more congestion especially on the right turn onto northbound Jamboree to enter the freeway. With lots of pedestrians still crossing the street here, the right turn lanes have to wait more time. They have handled this by making the right lane a right turn only lane as well as signal timing adjustments. I believe they extended the westbound michelson light about 15 seconds to help ease the congestion of the right turn lane traffic. These signal timing adjustments serve as a band aid in a sense for the project until they finish it. So though this increases the delay and  congestion at the moment, once this project is built we should have a well designed, highly efficient intersection.

With the pedestrian bridge, and the right turns lanes opening back up, they will probably readjust the traffic light timing easing the overall congestion. I believe this pedestrian bridge is a great development especially since pedestrian accessibility is not usually prioritized. Pedestrian infrastructure not only promotes other modes of transportation but it also reduces potential conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. The removal of a potential hazard to traffic can increase the average speed of the road overall improving efficiency. 

Being a frequent pedestrian on this Intersection I know first hand the dangers of this road. With the right turn lanes being unavailable, I was almost hit multiple times by right turning cars looking at the westbound traffic and not at the crosswalk in front of them. Though I do understand the troubles as a driver of having to add an extra step in your process of making the right turn. This adds strongly to the need of a pedestrian bridge, as pedestrian safety should be one of our main focuses in creating efficient and safe transportation systems. So to all the residents still stuck at this intersection; just hold on a little longer, in 13 short months you will be soaring through it.

Final design

https://cityofirvine.gov/node/85851

June 19, 2026