Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : House Approves Funds for Several Highway Projects

Magic Mountain Parkway in the Santa Clarita Valley will be widened and work will continue on the relocation of California 138 in Palmdale with funds approved for the projects by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The House on Wednesday also approved the inclusion of the Golden State, San Diego, Antelope Valley and Simi Valley freeways; and state highways 126 and 138 in the proposed national highway system.

Armando Azarloza, spokesman for Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), said Senate approval of the highway system and allocation of funds is still needed.

The national highway system plan, which must be enacted by Congress by Sept. 30, 1995, provides a blueprint for the nation’s transportation priorities, Azarloza said.

The Senate will probably approve the plan early next year, he said, adding that there would be no problem in securing the funding or retaining the freeways in McKeon’s district in the national highway system.

“We feel very good about it,” he said. “This is not pork tacked onto a bill. This has gone through an open review process.”

With Senate approval, $1 million will be allocated to aid in the relocation of California 138 off Palmdale Boulevard to Avenue P-8. The funds would be used for property acquisition on Avenue P-8 between the Antelope Valley Freeway and 50th Street East and follows the allocation in 1991 of $3 million for the same purpose.

In addition, California 126 between McBean Parkway and the Golden State Freeway would be widened. That project will receive $4 million in federal funds.