STUDIO CITY : Ferraro and Wachs Oppose Bridge Plan

Los Angeles Councilmen John Ferraro and Joel Wachs say they agree with Studio City residents that the widening of the Tujunga Avenue Bridge over the Los Angeles River would make it a bridge too far.

Last week, Ferraro and Wachs announced their opposition to the $1.6-million project, which the city Bureau of Engineering had proposed--initially to relieve a traffic bottleneck, then out of safety concerns.

“Since there appears to be no great need or immediate threat, and since the residents in the area are overwhelmingly opposed, I request that no further work be done on this project,” Wachs wrote in a letter dated March 28 to City Engineer Robert Horii.

Studio City residents welcomed the latest development, which virtually assures that the bureau will drop the project. “The community’s happy, and we saved the taxpayers a million and a half bucks,” said Tony Lucente, president of the Studio City Residents Assn.

The residents group began protesting the city’s plans 10 months ago, saying that it would draw more traffic, encourage speeders and change the pedestrian-friendly character of the neighborhood.