Questions and Answers About Your Commute : Interchange Work Causes Some Slowing

Dear Traffic Talk:

Can you enlighten me as to what is happening at the south Golden State Freeway to south San Gabriel River Freeway transition? The road used to be two lanes, now it narrows to one. Will this transition have two lanes again in the future?

Also, as a longtime Golden State Freeway commuter, I must voice my displeasure and confusion with the change that took place in the East L.A. interchange several months ago. Having the right lane of the southbound I-5 transition through the East L.A. interchange be shared by the west San Bernardino Freeway has really slowed the south I-5. It also has slowed those wanting to access the east Pomona Freeway, as many southbound drivers use the Pomona Freeway on-ramp and cut over at the last minute.

Why was this done?

Matt Shifflett

Santa Clarita

Dear Reader:

The transition from the Golden State Freeway to the San Gabriel River Freeway has been narrowed to a single lane while crews install a car-pool lane, according to the California Department of Transportation. The work is projected to take about six months, at which time the thoroughfare will reopen with two lanes for general traffic and a third for vehicles with two or more occupants.

As for the East L.A. interchange, you’re not the only one who is confused. Caltrans officials said they don’t know of any change to the traffic routes there. There is to be seismic retrofitting of that site, which will mean temporarily narrowing the traffic lanes there as well, but the work isn’t scheduled until the spring of 1996.

Dear Readers:

Here’s some encouraging news for the next time your radiator overheats or battery dies during rush-hour traffic.

Dozens of tow trucks are roaming Valley freeways on weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m., looking to help stranded motorists. They’ll change a flat tire, jump start a dead battery, refill a radiator, put gas into an empty tank, tow a vehicle or call for more help--all for free.

They are part of the Metro Freeway Service Patrol, a joint program of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the California Department of Transportation and the California Highway Patrol. The program, funded by the half-cent sales tax charge created by Proposition C in 1990, is intended to reduce congestion and air pollution by quickly clearing traffic snags.

The service covers most Valley freeways, although there are a few gaps. The Foothill Freeway and the Glendale Freeway are not included, and coverage of the Golden State Freeway stops north of the Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange, just south of Santa Clarita.

There is no charge to drivers. Freeway patrol employees are actually prohibited from accepting tips, although “thank yous” are gratefully accepted.

It’s a service no one ever hopes to use, but it’s certainly nice to know it exists. Motorists can request the service through CHP call boxes, and most calls are responded to within 10 minutes.

More information about the Metro Freeway Service Patrol is available by calling (213) 244-6266.

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers are invited to submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley. Please write to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, Calif. 91311. Include your full name, address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. To record your comments, call (818) 772-3303. Send fax letters to (818) 772-3385.