Eastern Toll Road (California)
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The Eastern Toll Road (also called The Eastern Transportation Corridor) is a tollway in Orange County, California. It comprises the entire length of California State Highway 261, the northern part of California State Highway 133, and the northern half of California State Highway 241.
The toll road is maintained by Transportation Corridor Agencies and is financed with tax-exempt bonds on a stand-alone basis -- taxpayers are not responsible for repaying any debt if toll revenues fall short.
A proposed extension to the SR-241 Foothill South Toll Road is being fought by a coalition of environmental organizations, including the Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and others. The groups contend that the planned route for the extension will run directly through the San Mateo Creek watershed, which is home to 11 federally endangered or threatend species. If completed, the project will also cause the permanent closure of a significant portion of the San Onofre State Park.
[edit] Route description
The Eastern Toll Road begins at the Riverside Freeway (California State Route 91) in Eastern Orange County. Signed as the 241, the tollway travels south, running east of existing developments in Eastern Anaheim, Orange, and Tustin. At Santiago Canyon Road outside of Tustin, it splits into two legs.
The western leg, signed as Highway 261, goes through the western side of Irvine. After crossing over Interstate 5 (there are no direct connections to that interstate highway), it ends at Walnut Avenue and Jamboree Road a few miles later.
The eastern leg of the Eastern Toll Road continues signed as the 241 as it runs towards the eastern side of Irvine. After it intersects with the Foothill Toll Road just outside of Irvine, it becomes signed as Highway 133. The 133 continues as the eastern leg of the toll road through the east side of Irvine until it intersects with Interstate 5. Afterwards, it becomes the Laguna Freeway.
