CASITAS SPRINGS : Part of Crosswalk Removed in Error

A Caltrans crew accidentally sandblasted part of a Casitas Springs crosswalk and had to repaint it, officials said Monday.

“They had only removed a small part of it before they realized their error,” said Bruce Dyar, regional manager of the state Department of Transportation. The crosswalk was the only safe way to cross California Highway 33, he said.

The accidental sandblasting prompted one resident to carry a sign that said “Save Our Crosswalk--Save Our Kids” protesting the removal of the walkway.

“The people came out from the area and bought it their attention. They didn’t want to lose their crosswalk,” Dyar said. “The crew just rechecked their papers and realized their error.”

The crew was supposed to removed a crosswalk on Kunkle Street, three miles north on Oak View Drive. The Kunkle Street crosswalk was supposed to be removed because it is safer for pedestrians to cross the road at a nearby traffic signal, Dyar said.

When the crew arrived at Kunkle Street, the sandblasting equipment didn’t work, Dyar said Monday. “It hasn’t been removed yet. We don’t know when we’ll do it . . . that was a bad luck day.”