THOUSAND OAKS : County OKs Road Improvement Project

After agreeing to work with Thousand Oaks to seek financing for another road project, Ventura County supervisors Tuesday approved spending $400,000 to improve a section of Moorpark Road outside the city limits.

Thousand Oaks officials had initially complained to the county that the money was earmarked for improvements to a portion of the roadway situated within the city’s boundaries, between Olsen and Santa Rosa roads. That stretch is known as the Norwegian Grade.

But county officials said the money would be better spent widening a more heavily traveled section of Moorpark Road--from Santa Rosa to Tierra Rejada roads in an unincorporated area.

William Britt, the county’s deputy director of public works, said the county also stands to gain up to $3 million in federal matching funds for the new road project.

Britt said part of the problem with Thousand Oaks’ proposal is that the city has yet to develop a plan to improve the Norwegian Grade.

Britt, however, said county officials are willing to work with Thousand Oaks in acquiring state or federal grant funds to improve the roadway once it has developed a specific project. He said city officials have indicated that could be five or 10 years away.