VENTURA COUNTY ROUNDUP : Somis : State Rejects Plan for Proposed Road

State transportation officials Friday formally rejected a plan proposed by Somis residents to build an alternative roadway at California 118 and Somis Road to help relieve traffic congestion at the busy intersection.

Caltrans officials cited heavy truck traffic as one reason for rejecting the plan.

Beginning in summer 2001, Caltrans will realign the dogleg on Donlon Road, which feeds Somis Road, and convert it into a four-lane intersection. Caltrans will also add two lanes for left turns for westbound traffic. Eastbound traffic will have one lane for left turns.

Renovating the intersection does not preclude construction of a larger bypass later, as proposed by Somis residents, said Tad Teferi, an area manager for Caltrans.

John Kerkhoff, a member of Save Our Somis and an original proponent of the bypass plan, said expanding the intersection would eventually destroy the rural atmosphere of the 100-year-old town.

“Putting in that big intersection preordains that [California] 34 will destroy Somis because eventually they will put in a four-lane highway,” he said.

“Look at what happened to Moorpark--it is full of trucks and traffic. Do you think they would put $4 million into this project and then forget it?”