Widening of San Diego, Ventura Freeways’ Interchange Urged

A $13.1-million proposal to widen the interchange connecting the San Diego and Ventura freeways has been included on a priority list compiled by Caltrans, said David Fleming, vice chairman of the California Transportation Commission.

The project is expected to be approved by the commission in January, Fleming said.

“Believe me, it’ll happen,” Fleming said Thursday. “Both the political pressure and the public pressure are overwhelming. This has been one of the worst bottlenecks for years and it just gets worse.”

Caltrans spokeswoman Margie Tiritilli said her agency would not release the list of regional projects until Friday.

The proposed interchange upgrade would widen the connector between the northbound San Diego Freeway and the southbound Ventura Freeway in the San Fernando Valley.

Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) said, “I’m very optimistic that it will not only be on the list, but will be strongly recommended.”

Other sources said Thursday that they had been told by Caltrans officials that the interchange improvement had been added to the priority list.

“They basically told me they were certain it would be on the list,” said Paul Hefner, a spokesman for Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg, a project supporter.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has already included the interchange upgrade on its priority list. The MTA also is exploring ways it could offer matching funds.