Most of the heavy lifting is finished on a $230 million widening of I-5 between San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.

Caltrans reached a milestone at the San Clemente end this week by shifting four northbound lanes of the freeway onto a newly widened bridge over Avenida Pico.

The 5.7-mile project between Pico and San Juan Creek Road should be finished by early spring, barring delays, Eric Carpenter, an Orange County Transportation Authority spokesman said via e-mail.

The new lane configuration gives an idea of how traffic will flow when carpool lanes are inserted in the center and final touches are in place.

Work began at the San Juan Capistrano end in March, 2014. Widening of the freeway at Avenida Pico and expansion of the Pico interchange began in early 2015.

Carpenter said work crews still must construct a concrete median barrier, erect overhead signs, install guardrails, put in the top layer of asphalt and put up signs.

“On each side of the barrier will be a 10-foot shoulder, one 12-foot carpool lane, four 12-foot general purpose lanes and a second 10-foot shoulder,” Carpenter said.

Work also continues on widening Pico beneath the freeway, as well as on- and off-ramps.

By year’s end, Carpenter said, Caltrans expects to finish the Pico roadway, traffic signals, a rock slope under the north side of the bridge, bridge-mounted signs, landscaping, lighting and irrigation.

“We appreciate the patience of nearby residents and businesses during construction,” Carpenter said, “and we look forward to them being able to enjoy the finished improvements soon.”

OCTA meanwhile is studying options for extending the widening south from Pico through San Clemente to the San Diego County line.

Kurt Brotcke, director of strategic planning, said options include adding a general-purpose lane in each direction, a carpool lane in each direction, a reversible lane in each direction or carpool lanes that non-carpoolers could pay to use.

“We have been asked by Caltrans to look at two lanes in each direction,” he told the San Clemente City Council on Oct. 17. A study, he said, is needed to see if there is demand.

“Post-recession, we have seen traffic projections drop,” he said.

OCTA will look at demand projections and how well the four options would perform, Brotcke said. He expected to be able to update the City Council in mid-2018.

Councilman Chris Hamm said he is concerned how much property would be needed to widen the road through south San Clemente.

This comes as the Transportation Corridor Agencies is also studying the extension of the 241 Toll Road from Oso Parkway into San Clemente to converge onto the 5 freeway south of Avenida Pico, running toll lanes down the middle of the I-5 into San Diego County.

The City Council is on record opposing any alignment carving through the middle of town to connect to I-5.