Questions and Answers About Your Commute : L.A. Stretch of California 126 to Be Widened

Dear Traffic Talk:

Thank goodness a big stretch of “killer highway”--California 126--is being widened.

But there is no evidence of widening in an approximately five-mile stretch from the Los Angeles County line to the Golden State Freeway.

Isn’t this a state highway?

If so, why is it only being widened in Ventura County?

What are the plans for widening that portion in Los Angeles County?

Howard Lockwood

Lake View Terrace

Dear Howard:

California 126, which runs from the Golden State Freeway at Castaic Junction to the Ventura Freeway at Ventura, is a state highway overseen by Caltrans, said Pat Reid, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Since 1985, Caltrans has completed a series of widening projects on that route, which is known for numerous fatal wrecks, Reid said.

She said funding has been approved for the next and final of this series of projects.

Work is set to begin in January and is expected to be completed two years later.

The project, which will cost $21 million, will widen the highway on the five-mile stretch from the Ventura County line across Los Angeles County to the Golden State Freeway, Reid said.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Sometimes on the road I’ll notice a sign that says: “End Freeway.”

The road continues on, unchanged, equally well-maintained, and it isn’t less “free” than the part of the road before the sign.

What does “End Freeway” mean?

Robert Saslow

Van Nuys

Dear Robert:

According to Caltrans, the term “freeway” refers to a route that is restricted in access and does not have cross traffic.

“End Freeway” simply means that a route that has been restricted in access and free of cross traffic for the last number of miles has come to an end, said Caltrans spokeswoman Reid.

Although the route will often continue “well-maintained” and “free” for a while more, drivers should look for cross traffic and traffic lights just ahead, she said.

Dear Traffic Talk:

Why is it that all through the San Fernando Valley on the Ventura Freeway in many cases you see signs that say “east” or “west,” and sometimes they say “north” or “south”?

And why do the signs sometimes say both?

That is enough to drive people crazy and possibly cause accidents.

Neal Cooper

North Hollywood

Dear Neal:

According to Reid, the Caltrans spokeswoman, there has always been a bit of confusion about which direction the Ventura Freeway travels for one simple reason:

The route exiting out of Los Angeles to San Diego or to San Francisco is oriented toward the north or south, she said.

For that reason, Caltrans’ signs for the freeway read “north” and “south.”

Traveling through the San Fernando Valley, however, the freeway is oriented in a “west” or “east” direction, she said.

This is why, in the Valley, the city of Los Angeles has installed advance signs on city streets that direct drivers to the “west” or “east” Ventura Freeway, she said.

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