Via Valmonte Will Remain Open

The city councils of Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates and Torrance this week approved an agreement that will keep open a popular route off the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Torrance officials had sought to close Via Valmonte because too many Peninsula residents were using the neighborhood street as a shortcut. Torrance residents had complained for years about the high traffic volume on the street, which winds through Palos Verdes Estates into Torrance.

Under the agreement worked out by the city managers of the three cities, the Peninsula cities will seek to reduce morning traffic on the street 60% by increasing the number of eastbound vehicles on Palos Verdes Drive North that can turn left at Hawthorne Boulevard during a traffic light cycle.

A “No Left Turn” sign will also be installed on Palos Verdes Drive North at Via Valmonte to prevent eastbound commuters from using the street from 7 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. The new traffic restriction will take effect in the next few weeks.