MOORPARK : Agreement May End Roadwork Delay

To the delight of Moorpark officials, the Camrosa Water District on Thursday offered to pay about half of the $180,000 cost of moving a pipeline necessary for the reconstruction of Tierra Rejada Road.

A dispute over what each side should pay to move the pipe had delayed the long-awaited road rehabilitation, which now may begin by February.

The offer came in a letter from Camrosa General Manager Richard Hajas that was faxed to Moorpark City Manager Steve Kueny on Thursday. “My opinion after looking at it is we’ve got a deal,” Moorpark Councilman Scott Montgomery said after reviewing the letter.

Hajas said the water district had been willing all along to contribute to the pipeline move, but waited to make sure that the split was equitable, since the roadwork was of limited benefit to the district. “I think both the Camrosa board and the city want to try and resolve the traffic problems,” he said.

For nearly three years, the city has been trying to expand Tierra Rejada Road from two lanes to four between California 23 and Spring Road and to repave the entire stretch. The final barrier to construction has been who would pay the cost of moving a Camrosa pipeline under the road.

The water district had objected to funding part of a project from which it did not benefit.

At Hajas’ invitation, Mayor Paul Lawrason last week attended Camrosa’s regular board meeting and later characterized his discussions there as a friendly exchange.

Montgomery said the council will consider the letter in a closed session at its regular meeting Wednesday. If the offer is accepted, he said, road construction could begin as early as February. It is estimated that the project will take about six months.