Oxnard Plans to Straighten Out Hook Onramp Situation

Dear Street Smart:

The Rose Avenue onramp to the westbound Ventura Freeway seems like an accident waiting to happen.

After making a left turn from Rose Avenue, you find yourself entering the freeway perpendicular to traffic.

There is no barrier, no extra warning signs and no light.

I have had to explain how this onramp works to people I’ve ridden with, and they tell me that they would not have understood on their own how to safely get onto this freeway onramp.

Is this the safety hazard it appears to be, or am I just overly paranoid?

Thank you for checking this out.

Paul Leibowitz, Ventura

Dear Reader:

Even though officials report that this freeway interchange is not a high-accident location, traffic engineers are planning improvements.

“The city of Oxnard has funded a project to build a new interchange at this location that will eliminate the existing hook ramps,” said Joe Genovese, the city’s top traffic engineer, referring to onramps that require drivers to make sharp right turns to freeways.

Genovese said that when completed, the new interchange will be like the one that exists at Vineyard Avenue, just up the freeway.

“We plan to issue requests for construction bids in spring of 1997, with completion by the end of 1998,” he said.

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Dear Street Smart:

I’m worried about the Ronald Reagan Freeway westbound between Kuehner Drive and Yosemite Avenue.

The lane dividers are gone, and the little caps they put in also are gone. At night, it is very hard to see, coming down that path. When it starts raining, it’s going to be all black.

I’m concerned that there’s going to be some accidents unless markings are added.

Paula Lightfoot, Simi Valley

Dear Reader:

Caltrans managers also are concerned about that stretch of freeway, although they did not know about the potential problem until they were asked to respond to your concerns.

But they pledged to study the situation, and fix it if conditions warrant, said Dave Servaes, the Caltrans region manager.

“What we’ll do is review that area to see if there’s so many dots missing that it’s a problem,” he said. “If there are, we will have it taken care of, certainly before bad weather sets in.”

By the way, another sharp-eyed Street Smart reader noticed a similar problem at the bottom of the Conejo Grade several months ago. After learning of that situation, Caltrans crews repaired that location within days.

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Dear Street Smart:

Posts have been erected in front of a driveway leading to a parking lot.

There are no prohibited parking signs at the curb in front of the posts, and no red paint has been applied.

May I consider this an available space for parking?

William Walsh, Ventura

Dear Reader:

Short answer: No.

According to Ventura police Lt. Steve Bowman, a driver must always respect the rights of the person who owns the property.

“It could still be used as a driveway, and the posts can be removed,” Bowman said. “So it would be the property owner’s choice. The driver would not have the option of blocking the property owner’s access.”

What’s more, Bowman said, if there are marked stalls nearby, a driver must always use those designated spaces.

Word of warning: The penalty for those who illegally park in front of a driveway is $30 in Ventura.