Lane Lines Needed for Entire Job

Dear Traffic Talk:

The intersection of Sherman Way and Woodman Avenue in Van Nuys has recently had some construction work done and temporary lane lines on Sherman Way were drawn to divert traffic away from the site.

However, the original lane lines are still there, causing a bottleneck and near mishaps as drivers switch lanes trying to figure out which is the proper lane to be in.

The temporary lines need to be removed to clear up this confusion. When can we expect that to be done?

Marc Schumann

Van Nuys

Dear Marc:

Often there are breaks in actual construction during lengthy projects, but work is far from being completed at this site, says Gary Gsell of the city of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Maintenance.

“It’s a water and power job that includes a cement lining project,” Gsell said. “A huge concrete pipe must be put in and the street will go back to the way it was once it’s done.”

Gsell added that it’s out of the hands of the Bureau of Street Maintenance since it’s a Department of Water and Power project.

The DWP has it on its 1999-2000 list, which means it is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year or the middle of next. Lanes will go back to normal once all the work is done.

*

Dear Traffic Talk:

I live on Raymer Street in Northridge. Our neighbors north of Parthenia Street have had their streets repaved and we are still waiting. Any idea when/if we will have ours paved?

Hope Christman

Northridge

Dear Hope:

It depends on what part of Raymer you live on.

The portion of Raymer from the dead end east of Amestoy Avenue to approximately 150 feet east of Shoshone Avenue is an unimproved street and city maintenance is limited to minor pothole repairs. It is city policy that improvements of such streets and alleys be made at the expense of the property owners, says Richard Evans of the Bureau of Street Maintenance.

If you live on the segment of Raymer from approximately 150 feet east of Shoshone to the dead end west of Blauvelt Place, you’re in luck.

Thanks to your letter, the street is being recommended for a future annual resurfacing program run by the street maintenance bureau.

The program uses a formula that rates streets citywide based on age, pavement defects, drainage, traffic counts and riding quality.

“Recommendation does not necessarily mean it will be selected,” Evans said. “Each year more streets than can be funded are submitted, so those that meet the selection criteria but are unable to be included for budgetary reasons are reconsidered the following year.”

*

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com.