Freeway Work to Close 3 Lanes, 3 Ramps

Three lanes and three ramps of the westbound Ventura Freeway in Woodland Hills will be closed tonight and Saturday morning as the state Department of Transportation continues a project to widen and repair the freeway.

This weekend, Caltrans is pouring concrete for the bridge approach at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, where the freeway crosses over the street. From 9 tonight to noon Saturday, three lanes will be closed and one lane open on the westbound freeway from Canoga Avenue to Fallbrook Avenue. The westbound Topanga Canyon Boulevard off-ramps and the westbound Shoup Avenue off-ramp will also be closed. The lanes and ramps will reopen Saturday afternoon.

Caltrans advises motorists to exit at De Soto or Canoga avenues, drive west on Ventura Boulevard and re-enter the freeway at Long Valley Road, spokeswoman Margaret Blum said.

The eastbound freeway will not be affected this weekend, officials said.

Officers will be posted at major intersections along Ventura Boulevard to direct traffic Saturday morning, Blum said. Tow trucks will offer assistance to cars on the freeway, authorities said.

In addition, officials announced that several off- and on-ramps, which have been closed since early March, will remain closed about three more months: the westbound Topanga Canyon Boulevard on-ramp, westbound Valley Circle Boulevard off-ramp, westbound Parkway Calabasas off-ramp, eastbound Valley Circle Boulevard-Mulholland Drive off-ramp and eastbound Fallbrook Avenue off-ramp.

Motorists may call a 24-hour, toll-free hot line, 1 (800) CALL VIP, for recorded information on the freeway closures.

The work is part of Caltrans’ 16-month Ventura Improvement Project to widen and repair the freeway from Valley Circle Boulevard to White Oak Avenue.