Q. The most aggravating stretch of roadway in Orange County is at the south end of the 55 freeway. Has Caltrans, or any other transportation agency, ever considered streamlining the transition of traffic from the freeway to surface streets between 19th and 17th streets in Costa Mesa? Would fewer traffic lights, limited left- and right-turn options and a redirection of Newport Boulevard traffic going into The Triangle shopping area do anything to improve the congestion there? I’d like to hear what you or others know about the issue.

– William Lambeth, Irvine

A. William, all Honk knows is that he has hit that wall of congestion for decades, thankful that his hairstylist over there doesn’t get mad at him for being late. But then again, how long does it take her to snip his three remaining strands?

Officials at Costa Mesa City Hall and Caltrans are dealt a rough hand – a busy freeway just ends there, dumping off thousands of vehicles. Weekdays, 100,000 vehicles get on or off the 55 at that spot.

Officials say there is a fine balance – residents and customers of the businesses on each side of Newport Boulevard need the turn pockets. But you don’t want to entice too many motorists off of Newport and flood the adjacent neighborhoods. And you want to move the traffic through the area as quickly as possible.

Raja Sethuraman, Costa Mesa’s interim director of Public Services, said his city, Newport Beach and Caltrans huddle to make it work as best as it can. The synchronization of the traffic signals is often looked at to see if it can be updated.

The next major improvement, which Sethuraman is optimistic will get done, is a few years off at least: a fourth southbound lane from 19th to 17th, which has a price tag of perhaps $15 million.

The big dream for many is removing Newport Boulevard from 19th to 16th, putting two lanes in each direction down below and then rebuilding the boulevard above. About half of the traffic would take this below-surface “express connection” to 16th, Sethuraman figured.

Anyone have 400 million clams to pay for this? Someday maybe the state and feds will swoop in with flush checkbooks.

Honkin’ observation: In June 2015, the Department of Motor Vehicles started issuing the yellow-on-black Legacy License Plate, which looks like California’s standard-issue one of the 1960s.

Honk opined that he didn’t like them – shouldn’t the look be reserved for the real deals actually issued back in the day, badges of honor for senior citizen vehicles?

Well, ol’ Honk must now admit – those shiny new ones look pretty swift on gleaming black trucks and cars.

Honkin’ fact: Drinking and driving is very, very bad – and to hammer the point home, the cops in the Canadian town of Kensington will nab you if you are drunk and help drop a hefty fine and year’s-long license suspension on you.

Oh, they say, you will also have to endure listening to Nickelback on the way to the pokey.

The Canadian band has been a commercial success, yes, but a 2014 Rolling Stone poll on groups that should break up ranked it No. 1 (Sources: CNN and Rolling Stone).

To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He answers only those that are published.

To see Honk online: ocregister.com/honk.