Council Considers Closing Ventura Freeway Offramp

Searching for solutions to the gridlock at the interchange of the San Diego and Ventura freeways, the Los Angeles City Council is scheduled today to consider directing Caltrans to develop a plan for temporarily closing the Haskell Avenue offramp from the westbound Ventura Freeway.

Council members Cindy Miscikowski and Mike Feuer proposed the closure to test whether the offramp is contributing to traffic problems.

In particular, the council members are concerned that motorists merging onto the westbound Ventura Freeway from the northbound San Diego Freeway must cross several lanes of traffic to exit at Haskell. That maneuver has led to traffic accidents and slowdowns in the flow of westbound cars, according to Caltrans.

In addition, residents in the neighborhood at the end of the Haskell offramp have complained that motorists getting off the freeway are driving too fast, said to Glenn Barr, a spokesman for Miscikowski.

State transportation officials are willing to support any proposal that has the backing of the City Council and the community, said Caltrans spokeswoman Margie Tiritilli.

The council motion asks Caltrans to conduct an environmental analysis to determine the impact that a trial closure would have on traffic near the interchange.