Oxnard Still Planning to Pave Gonzales Road Near Mall

Dear Street Smart:

When is something going to be done about the rough, poorly striped condition of the intersection of Gonzales Road and Rose Avenue in Oxnard?

I can’t believe whoever worked on this intersection, near the Shopping at the Rose complex, could have left it this way and called the job done.

Westbound Gonzales needs to be resurfaced from about a mile before the intersection, and the striping is terrible.

When can we motorists who drive this route daily expect some relief?

Dean Lohmeyer, Point Mugu

Dear Reader:

What you see at Gonzales and Rose is a work in progress.

When Shopping at the Rose opened, the developers agreed to pave and stripe most of the roadway.

One section, namely westbound Gonzales, was not part of the deal.

The city plans to put this final part of the project out to bid by the end of the year, Oxnard Operation Superintendent Jim Weeks says.

Construction is scheduled to begin in April.

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Dear Street Smart:

Are there any plans to remedy the traffic problem at Moorpark and Tierra Rejada roads in Moorpark?

Even though there have been several accidents at this T-shaped intersection, it is regulated by a lone stop sign for northbound Moorpark Road traffic.

It seems to me that there is enough eastbound and westbound traffic here for some additional stop signs or a signal.

My neighbor was just injured in an accident at that intersection, and we’re wondering what it will take to get some additional traffic control there.

Linda Davis, Moorpark

Dear Reader:

Both the city of Moorpark and the county are concerned about the traffic tangles at this intersection.

The two share responsibility for the area since Tierra Rejada falls within the city limits and Moorpark Road is in county territory.

In fact, both applied for funding to remedy the problem, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission chose the county’s proposal.

A $3.2-million overhaul, complete with road widenings and traffic signals, should be under way by late 1996 or early 1997.

Why the delay? The intersection falls in an ecologically sensitive area, and the county must conduct a full environmental impact report before proceeding with the project, Deputy Public Works Director Butch Britt says.

“This is an area with wetlands and habitats and possible archeological significance,” Britt said. “We have to pay attention to these things.”

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Dear Street Smart:

I know from a previous question that no funds are available for widening the two-lane section of California 118 between Moorpark and Oxnard.

How about a simple left-turn lane at the intersection of the highway and Santa Clara Avenue, where the highway continues to Saticoy?

All too often, eastbound traffic gets stuck behind someone trying to make a left turn at this signal.

Since we’re only talking about a few feet of roadway for a left-turn lane, can’t some funds be allotted for that?

Bruce Leeds, Moorpark

Dear Reader:

The solution you suggest is not as simple as it sounds.

The state Department of Transportation is aware of the traffic woes of travelers on narrow California 118, but installing a left-turn lane at Santa Clara Avenue just won’t work, Engineer Luu Nguyen says.

Widening the road to make room for another lane would disrupt roadside drains, and moving the drains would be a costly task, Nguyen says.

Caltrans estimates that it will take about $200,000 to redo the intersection and, in these times of tight transportation budgets, this project is pretty low on the list.

But, hey, things could be worse.

“Until 1992, all we had there was a flashing red light,” Nguyen said. “Now at least there’s a signal.”