Warnings Stop Traffic Jam From Jelling

The massive traffic jam that transportation officials had feared Saturday morning on the Ventura Freeway did not materialize because motorists heeded warnings to avoid portions of the freeway under construction in the San Fernando Valley, authorities said.

But officials were quick to note that construction continues this morning, closing three of four lanes in Tarzana and Woodland Hills as part of a 16-month, $18.3-million freeway-widening project.

The State Department of Transportation predicted a backup of up to 10 miles could occur if drivers did not steer clear of the freeway during the lane closures.

On Saturday morning, there was a sharp drop in traffic, prompting authorities to compare the day’s traffic conditions with those during the 1984 Olympic Games.

Continued Cooperation

But they added that “public cooperation” must continue. The lane closings will be repeated this morning on the westbound freeway, with work scheduled between Corbin and Canoga avenues.

The closures will continue each weekend through the end of July, except for the Fourth of July weekend, as workers replace concrete bridge-approach slabs between White Oak and Canoga avenues.

“If we get this kind of cooperation throughout the entire bridge project, we’ll be OK,” said George-Ann Rosenberg, a Caltrans spokeswoman. “We just want to make sure that just because it went well today, people won’t jump back onto the freeway.”

The weekend lane closure schedule is from midnight Fridays to 11 a.m. Saturdays and midnight Saturdays to 11 a.m. Sundays. This Saturday, the lanes reopened earlier than scheduled.

Caltrans publicly had urged motorists to take alternate westbound routes such as Victory Boulevard, Vanowen Street or Sherman Way. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation reported no serious backups on those thoroughfares, although traffic was heavy on westbound Ventura Boulevard during the late morning.

Easy Day

The city had adjusted traffic signals to allow longer green lights to those driving east or west on Ventura Boulevard. Similar adjustments were made to green lights allowing drivers to exit the westbound freeway off-ramps in the construction area.

Gray-shirted traffic control officers stationed at the off-ramps had a relatively easy day, city Transportation Supervisor Darryl Roberson said.

In fact, officials in a city helicopter noticed that some exit ramps’ green lights were too long, backing up northbound and southbound traffic, Roberson said.

No serious accidents were reported as a result of the construction, California Highway Patrol Officer Kenn Rosenberg said.