EDITORIAL:Solutions for 55 Freeway traffic must be creative, doable

Anyone who spends even a little time driving on that confluence of concrete that is the ending and beginning of the 55 Freeway and Newport Boulevard has probably uttered a curse word or three.

The alpha and the omega of the so-called freeway to nowhere is at most hours of the day, and even night, hopelessly clogged with smog-belching vehicles.

Residents tell stories that what should be a 10-minute commute across town is now 30 to 40 minutes of bumper-to-bumper headaches.

What forces brought this misery to bear upon the good people of Newport-Mesa?

Well, credit a combination of factors: Newport Beach and Costa Mesa’s supreme reputations as visitor-destination spots and quality places to call home are certainly big reasons. The shopping, entertainment and dining establishments that sit adjacent to this main arterial highway are also part of the problem.

Another is the insistence of Newport leaders many years ago to stop the freeway at its current spot instead of extending it all the way to West Coast Highway.

So now, how to fix it?

Costa Mesa officials may have moved one step closer to that answer after the Orange County Transportation Authority board agreed to fund a $270,000 study to find ways to alleviate the congestion.

We are all for the study, but let’s not fool ourselves with this idea of building a tunnel under the downtown. The price tag just to build a tunnel, not to mention maintain it, would be astronomical. We will listen to the ideas — even a tunnel — with an open mind, but what makes more sense to us is the idea of flyovers or additional lanes.

We trust that with $275,000, transportation planners can come up with creative and cost-effective ways of easing the traffic.

We applaud the transportation authority for pushing forward with the study and the city of Costa Mesa for keeping the issue on the front burner.

Hopefully, there will be fewer reasons for headaches on the road ahead.