Ed. Note: Updates the approval of the fund for the project.

Los Angeles County officials approved Tuesday a $450,000 change in work on a $37 million project to build a State Route 126 and Commerce Center Drive Interchange bridge in Castaic.

The project, which began in 2013, includes a cast-in-place, prestressed reinforced concrete bridge, asphalt concrete pavement, Portland cement concrete pavement on base material, reinforced concrete barriers, soil-cement bank stabilization, drainage facilities, traffic signals and intelligent transportation systems, according to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agenda.

The State Route 126 Interchange Improvement project is being constructed in partnership with the County, Metro, and Caltrans, and once completed, is expected to provide significant traffic flow and safety improvements for area residents and commuters, reduced travel times and enhanced access to the Valencia Commerce Center development, according to the Department of Public Works website.  It will also create about 1,600 temporary jobs during the three-year construction period and result in an additional 7,000 permanent jobs at the Commerce Center.

The request adds $450,000 for roadway excavation to the already $37,381,851.17 contract, according to the agenda. The change in work will compensate the contractor. No additional working days are expected to be required.

If the changes in work were not approved, the project completion is expected to be delayed and there would be an increase in costs, officials said.

The original contract amount was $35,387,229.10.

A change in work was previously approved by a “delegated authority” to add $1,315,834.07 to the budget, officials said. Another $228,788 was approved by the Board of Supervisors.

The funds for the project are coming from the Fifth Supervisorial District’s Road Construction Program in the Fiscal Year 2014-15 Road Fund Budget, according to the agenda.

The purpose of the changes are to support of the timely completion of the projects while avoiding delays and the potential for claims, according to the agenda item.