Council to Study Closing Haskell Offramp on 101

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

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

In particular, council members are concerned that motorists joining the westbound 101 Freeway from the 405 Freeway have a short distance to cross several lanes of traffic if they want to exit at Haskell. That maneuver has led to traffic accidents and slowdowns in the flow of westbound cars, Caltrans has confirmed.

In addition, residents in the neighborhood at the end of the Haskell offramp have complained that motorists exiting the freeway are driving much too fast through their residential streets, according 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 effect of a trial closure on traffic in the area of the interchange, a prerequisite to closing the offramp.