VIDEO: Dignitaries Crack Whip, Break Ground to Start Construction on I-5

South Orange County commuters will see more traffic relief – after some initial construction-related traffic congestion—along the Interstate 5 Freeway.

With the roar of the freeway, Orange County leaders on Wednesday kicked off a $249 million project to alleviate the jams, which can often be worse on the weekends than weekdays.

The project, expected to take 2 ½ years to complete, will add a carpool lane in both directionsbetween San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano and Avenida Pico in San Clemente.

Workers will also reconstruct the Avenida Pico interchange and add soundwalls where needed.