COSTA MESA, Calif.—Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) recently shadowed construction workers as they pushed to complete a multi-million-dollar freeway expansion project off the San Diego Freeway (405) and State Route 73.

Porter discussed federal funding for the project with the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters as they work around the clock through challenges ranging from shipping delays on construction materials to pandemic-based issues.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) overlooks freeway construction projects on the State Route 73 southern interchange from the Interstate 405 in Costa Mesa, Calif., on April 21, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

“We are so grateful for your hard work,” Porter said to workers on the freeway.

“You are building our roads, and we thank you.”

This year, the state will receive over $4.86 billion to assist in construction and maintenance operations for California’s 386,000 miles of highways, as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in which California will receive $29.5 billion over the next five years.

Cars merge onto the State Route 73 southern interchange from the Interstate 405 in Costa Mesa, Calif., on April 21, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)(John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A worker tosses a hammer to a colleague as freeway construction continues on the State Route 73 southern interchange from the Interstate 405 in Costa Mesa, Calif., on April 21, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)