Leaky Pipes Cause Delay in Resurfacing of Bumpy Road

Dear Street Smart:

This is a minor complaint in the scheme of things; however, it is annoying.

Crestview Water Co. workers recently tore up Valley Vista Drive in Camarillo to replace water pipes.

When they resurfaced the street, they left it very uneven.

In fact, where the construction ends, opposite Vista Del Mar, there is a large uneven spot that is impossible to avoid.

I don’t know whether this is in the city or the county, or even who to complain to, so you are it.

It seems that when the roads are torn up, it should be the responsibility of the company to put them back approximately as they were.

Arlene Persons

Camarillo

Dear Reader:

The city is well aware of the bumpy road problem on Valley Vista.

The road was initially torn up six months ago so that new water pipes could be installed. In a typical situation, the road would have been back to normal within a few weeks, says Ron Wilson, the city’s inspection supervisor.

But in this case, some of the pipes sprang leaks, delaying the repaving work.

Now the leaks have been patched, and the road should be smoothed within a week, Wilson says.

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Dear Street Smart:

There is a confusing and potentially dangerous problem with the street markings in Thousand Oaks at Avenida de los Arboles and Moorpark Road.

Just west of Moorpark Road on Los Arboles, there is a confusing center lane. It is unclear from the markings whether cars coming from both directions can use the lane, or whether it is supposed to be set off exclusively for one direction of traffic.

I recently entered the lane driving west, but a police officer pulled me over and informed me that the lane is only to be used by eastbound cars.

I had no idea that this was the case, and I would never intentionally put myself or my children in danger. There should be better street markings at this intersection to ensure that other drivers don’t make the same mistake.

With all the new construction and changes to the city, street markings must be clear to avoid future accidents.

Your quick response would be greatly appreciated.

Robin Westmiller

Thousand Oaks

Dear Reader:

The street markings at Moorpark and Los Arboles are the same as those at many other major Thousand Oaks intersections, says Jeff Knowles, assistant traffic engineer.

He cautions drivers to pay close attention when entering a center turning lane, as some lanes are designed to carry traffic heading in both directions, while others handle just one.

One rule of thumb: Near a major intersection, the center lanes are usually set aside for just one direction of traffic, Knowles says.

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Dear Street Smart:

The recent letter to Street Smart regarding the eastbound Tapo Canyon Road off-ramp from the Simi Valley Freeway in Simi Valley could also apply to the westbound ramp.

The situation is the same--there is a left lane for left-turn-only cars and a right lane shared by left- and right-turning traffic.

After observing eastbound traffic, Caltrans officials found that the current lane markings on the eastbound ramp are incorrect. They said they will change the markings so that the heavy flow of right-turning cars have their own lane.

Has Caltrans conducted a similar study for westbound traffic? If so, what has it found?

Melvin C. Altaffer

Simi Valley

Dear Reader:

In response to your query, the state Department of Transportation dispatched an inspector to observe the flow of traffic on the westbound Tapo Canyon off-ramp.

In this case, however, the existing lane configuration is appropriate, says Bob Houle, traffic engineer. During the morning rush, for every 2.6 cars turning left, just one car turned right. And in the evening, for every 2.1 cars turning left, just one turned right.

“It looks like, at least for now, things are working they way they are,” Houle said.