Median Strip Is Planned for Orangethorpe Avenue
In response to increased traffic on Orangethorpe Avenue, city officials plan to build a median strip to prevent left turns in the middle of the street.
City Council members last week chose a contractor, Santa Ana-based Norris-Repke Inc., to study traffic and determine how far down Orangethorpe the median should extend.
The barrier could run 200 feet in either direction of Walker Street, said Public Works Director Ismile H. Noorbaksh.
Some council members said they were concerned that businesses might feel the pinch if shoppers could not turn left without going to the next intersection.
“Going to the next light and turning around could definitely affect businesses,” Councilwoman Charlene Hatakeyama said.
Noorbaksh said the engineers would consider making cuts in the median for left turns. Planning should take another six months, and the construction will take about two months, Noorbaksh said.
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