The Orange County, Calif., Transportation Authority (OCTA) executed a $1.217-billion design-build contract in early February for the I-405 express lanes project with joint venture partners OHL USA and Astaldi Construction Corp. Work consists of 16 miles of reconstruction of the heavily congested corridor, including 14 miles of tolled express lanes. Next steps include separate procurements for a toll systems integrator and back office services provider for the managed lanes portion of the $1.9-billion project.