TAFFIC TALK : Funding for Sound Walls in Pipeline

Dear Traffic Talk:

Around the time of the Northridge earthquake I remember reading in The Times that funding had been approved for sound walls on the Ronald Reagan Freeway between the Foothill Freeway and the San Diego Freeway.

Nothing has been done. Is the project still in the offing or did the funding get appropriated for something else?

Richard McKelvey

Mission Hills

Dear Richard:

True enough, that funding was used to retrofit freeways after the 1994 earthquake to meet new state standards, said Ed Scannell, a county Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman.

Yet, this Ronald Reagan Freeway area is one of about 92 throughout California on a “post-1989 list” designated to receive funding for sound walls, Scannell said.

He added that there are 42 other areas that were marked for sound walls before 1989, but the California Transportation Commission has not formally approved funding for them.

Recently, the state Transportation Commission decided to fund the 10-year-old sound wall list--at an estimated $230-million cost--which could lead to the financing of 13 new sound walls in the San Fernando Valley. At least $35.6 million would be used to fund three along the Golden State Freeway, seven along the Hollywood Freeway and three along the Glendale Freeway.

According to Scannell, the MTA and Caltrans are working together to make sound-wall projects more cost effective by combining projects that are near each other or constructing sound walls with improvements such as more lanes, landscaping and carpool lanes.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Can I find out when Tujunga Canyon Boulevard will be repaved between Foothill Boulevard and Summitrose Street? It’s in terrible condition.

Denise Mitchell

Tujunga

Dear Denise:

There are two proposed projects to resurface that area on Tujunga Canyon, said Gregory L. Scott, director of the bureau of street services at the city Department of Public Works.

There are proposals to repair Cardamine Place to Apperson Street for $71,000 and Apperson to Foothill Boulevard for $209,000, he said. Nearby, there is also a plan to resurface Tujunga Canyon, from Foothill Boulevard to La Tuna Canyon Road, for $65,000.

Should the proposals receive funding, repairs would begin in July and last about two months, Scott said.

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley.news@latimes.com.