Work on Storm Drain, Trees to Begin

Work will soon begin on two county improvement projects, officials said Friday.

Crews will build a storm drain in Studio City that will reduce flooding, and trim more than 3,000 trees on various county streets.

The 3,400-foot reinforced concrete storm drain will run along Longridge Avenue, from Blairwood Drive south to Longridge Terrace, said Joel Bellman, spokesman for county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

The drain will improve safety for motorists and pedestrians in the flood-prone area during and after thunderstorms, Bellman said.

“By getting the water out faster, there will be less of a chance it will clog up intersections,” he said.

The $865,000 project will begin next month and last until July. During construction, Longridge Avenue may be limited to one lane.

The tree trimming will begin later this month and continue until mid April in parts of Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Viewridge and Woodland Crest.

The $99,000 project will ensure adequate clearance for vehicles and pedestrians and prevent property damage, Bellman said. It will also remove dead wood and weak, diseased or broken limbs, he said.

The work is part of a five-year maintenance cycle that coincides with the trees’ growth rates. County public works crews will mark the trimmed trees and chopped wood will be available to residents for firewood. Tree waste will be recycled.

Both projects will be done by private contractors and administered by the county’s Department of Public Works.