Lighted Signs Not Necessary, Official Says

Dear Traffic Talk:

After a recent move to the San Fernando Valley I find it difficult to get around at night because the overhead street signs at the intersections are not lighted.

This makes it difficult for you to know where you are.

The signs are lighted in other parts of Los Angeles. Why not in the Valley?

Elizabeth Pierce

Chatsworth

Dear Elizabeth:

No overhead street signs within the city of Los Angeles are lighted, according to officials.

The city has stayed away from such lights partly because of cost of installation and maintenance, said Ray Wellbaum, an engineer with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Lighted signs are also not necessary.

He said the signs the city has installed are designed to reflect light. Consequently, the signs are illuminated by any lights--but mostly by light from car headlights and street lamps.

Some cities in other parts of Los Angeles County do have illuminated signs, Wellbaum said.

However, those are usually in small communities or rural areas where dark intersections are common.

Dear Traffic Talk:

What is the status of the ongoing widening project on the Antelope Valley Freeway between Palmdale and Santa Clarita?

Is there a date when these lanes will be open?

David Buchanan

Lancaster

Dear David:

There are two projects in the works to widen the Antelope Valley Freeway in connection to the addition of a high-occupancy-vehicle lane in each direction, according to authorities.

Eventually, a 35.9-mile stretch will be widened from the Golden State Freeway in Santa Clarita to the Avenue P-8 over-crossing in Palmdale, said Pat Reid, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

The work is being done in stages, targeting first the most congested parts of the commute, according to authorities.

For instance, in January 1996 the agency began a $23-million project to widen 6.7 miles from San Fernando Road in Newhall to Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country, Reid said.

That existing six-lane stretch will become an eight-lane corridor by June 1998.

Another part of the project involves 10.6 miles from Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country to Escondido Canyon Road near Agua Dulce, authorities said.

That portion of work will widen the freeway from three to four lanes in both directions, Reid said. Completion of that is scheduled for May 1999.

There is also more work scheduled to begin this summer, according to the agency.

First, the agency in July plans to begin a $33-million phase to widen 11.2 miles from Escondido Canyon Road near Agua Dulce to just north of Mountain Spring Road in Acton, Reid said.

Other work scheduled to begin in October involves a $22-million project to widen a 6.2-mile stretch from just north of Mountain Springs Road in Acton to Avenue P-8 near Palmdale, according to Reid.

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