Caltrans in No Rush to Cure Freeway’s Rush-Hour Blues

Barreling down northbound Ventura Freeway through Oxnard recently, Street Smart got to thinking.

And believe us, he had time for it.

It was early evening rush-hour, and traffic soon slowed to its usual snarl from about Rose Avenue to the Santa Clara Avenue bridge where, for no apparent reason, it opened back up again.

It would be awful nice, Street Smart thinks, to see Caltrans do something out here so this mile-long trip doesn’t have to take 20 minutes.

Seems Street Smart was having a bit of a mind-meld with reader Steve McLaughlin of Ventura, and no doubt countless others.

Much like Street Smart, Steve wants to know: Are there any plans to widen that roadway or do something to relieve one of the county’s most notorious daily traffic nightmares?

Thankfully, the answer is yes.

Unfortunately, the wait for it will be a lot like sitting in traffic on the 101 near Oxnard during evening rush-hour.

We will get there, oh Street Smart faithful.

Just plan on waiting awhile first.

Dear Street Smart:

Are they ever going to widen the Ventura Freeway right past Vineyard Avenue to three lanes?

Also, I was wondering if they’re going to put in a meter signal coming onto the freeway from the Ventura Road onramp going north on the 101?

It seems like there is a lot of traffic there in the evening and the busy times.

Steve McLaughlin

Ventura

Dear Reader:

Caltrans spokeswoman Pat Reid did some digging for us.

As it turns out, we are on the list.

Not exactly the top priority, but we’re on the list.

As we speak, Caltrans engineers are drafting plans to widen the northbound Ventura Freeway from Vineyard to the Santa Clara Avenue bridge, exactly where our gripe rests.

Herein lies the snag: Construction is set to begin in the fall of 2000 and won’t be completed until the end of 2002.

Meanwhile, there are no plans to install ramp meters at Ventura Road.

Still, while it may take time, Steve, it is refreshing to know that someone actually heard all the screaming we’ve done out the car window, eh?

Dear Street Smart:

Traveling south on Highway 1, how come you cannot make a left turn at the Rose Avenue intersection?

What I found I have to do is make a right on Rose, go down to Channel Islands Boulevard and make a U-turn so I can go north on Rose.

It’s been this way ever since they did that intersection, and I was wondering why they haven’t corrected the problem.

David McKelvey

Oxnard

Dear Reader:

Word from Caltrans is that it is just too dangerous to allow left turns at that intersection.

Caltrans spokeswoman Reid says drivers cannot see far enough down Rose to make safe left turns.

It is true that left turns were allowed before the intersection was reconstructed.

But after investigating, Reid said, Caltrans traffic engineers decided that left turns at Rose and Pacific Coast Highway should not be allowed.

And sorry David, but there are no plans to change this.

As convoluted as your U-turn method may be, it is the only way you’re going to get there.

Dear Street Smart:

I have an inquiry concerning the 118 Freeway eastbound at the Santa Susana Pass hill.

Since the advent of the carpool lane at the top of the hill, we get an extra lane there.

Wouldn’t it be prudent to open the carpool lane that runs from Kuehner Drive to almost the top of the hill to everyone, allowing trucks to use two lanes and cars to use two lanes. After all, we have quite a few rear-end accidents going up that hill.

Tim Ryan

Simi Valley

Dear Reader:

The shoulder lane on that segment of the Ronald Reagan Freeway is used as a part-time carpool lane--and not as a full-time carpool lane--because it is not built to act as a regular freeway lane, Reid said.

In short, shoulder lanes are not constructed to be as structurally stable as regular freeway lanes. They’re basically built to handle someone pulling over with a flat tire or nauseated child, not for hour after hour of high-speed, high-volume traffic.

However, Reid said there are plans to make that carpool lane a full-time lane in the future.

And we are talking future here, reader.

The tentative target date for installing a full-time carpool lane from Tapo Canyon Road to the Los Angeles County line is sometime in the year 2004.

Peeved? Baffled? Miffed? Or merely perplexed? Street Smart answers your most probing questions about the joys and horrors of driving around Ventura County. Write to Street Smart, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura, 93001, or call our Sound Off Line, 653-7546. Include a simple sketch, if needed, to help you explain. In every case, include your full name, address, and day and evening phone numbers. Street Smart cannot answer anonymous queries, and might edit your letter or phone message due to space constraints.