STUDIO CITY : City Plans to Widen Tujunga Ave. Bridge

City engineers will unveil plans next month to widen the Tujunga Avenue Bridge, a proposal that has already drawn widespread concern about increased traffic.

But safety is the reason cited by the city Bureau of Engineering, which wants to extend the bridge over the Los Angeles River from two to four lanes to match the width of Tujunga Avenue on both sides.

“The bridge is a bottleneck,” engineer Luis Ganaja said Friday.

Ganaja said the proposed $1.4-million project would also include widening the bridge’s sidewalks.

But Tony Lucente, president of the Studio City Residents Assn., said the work is unnecessary. He urged residents to attend a public meeting Jan. 19 to hear more about the plan and voice concern that the neighborhood’s pedestrian-friendly atmosphere will be altered.

“It will mean more traffic. It will create a less safe environment . . . due to the increased traffic and speed,” Lucente said, adding that he hopes residents will suggest alternatives. For example, he said, the city could narrow the street where it approaches the bridge from both sides.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Vitello’s restaurant, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City.