LOS ANGELES - A federal judge yesterday lifted an injunction that had prohibited construction on a portion of the San Joaquin Hills told road in Orange County, Calif.
Late last summer, U.S. District Court Judge Linda McLaughlin issued an order that let the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency starts construction on both ends of the 15-mile toll road. At the time, however, she agreed to grant a preliminary injunction blocking construction on a five-mile segment in the middle of the project.
An environmental coalition sought to block construction because of a pending lawsuit that questioned the legality of various environmental approvals.
Yesterday, however, McLaughlin lifted the injunction after ruling that "the Federal Highway Administration actions in certifying the federal environmental documents were complete," according to a disclosure notice released by the San Joaquin toll road agency.
McLaughlin's ruling was "concise and to the point," Mike Stockstill, a spokesman for the agency, said yesterday. "It was all over in 14 minutes."
Stockstill said the agency is "pleased to have this one past us," especially because the case is the "last big one" threatening to disrupt construction.
Preparations for construction in the restricted area "will begin immediately," according to the toll road agency's notice.
Stockstill noted, however, that the legal challenge may not be dead.
The environmental groups who are plaintiffs in the case may seek an emergency injunction in a federal appellate court, aiming to stop construction pending an appeal.
The project was financed with more than $1 billion of toll road revenue bonds sold early last year.
The toll road agency has fended off various environmental challenges. Earlier this spring, it prevailed in two other pending cases that directly or indirectly pertained to construction issues for the San Joaquin road or other proposed toll roads.
