ASK MS. TRAFFIC : CLUTTERED INTERSECTION TO GET NEW RED PAINT.

Eastbound Schoolcraft Street motorists turning south onto Shoup Avenue in West Hills have trouble seeing oncoming traffic because of the parked cars along the northwest curbside.

I can't see oncoming traffic until they're about one car length from me - a little too close for comfort.

Would it be possible to extend the already red northwest curb along Shoup to help drivers see oncoming traffic before they enter the intersection?

- D.D., West Hills

A check of the intersection by representatives from the West Valley Department of Transportation showed that sufficient visibility exists and that any changes - such as additional red curbing - aren't necessary, said Ray Wellbaum, the department engineer.

The existing 25-foot faded red curb will be repainted in the near future as a precaution, Wellbaum said.

Dense and heavy limbs on a tree that hangs over my driveway and over Caritina Avenue in Tarzana are too low for safe passage.

Can they be trimmed by the appropriate city agency?

- M.H., Tarzana

Owners of the property on which the tree was growing were cited Feb. 28 by the Los Angeles city Street Tree Division and given two weeks to comply, said Greg Monfette, a department tree surgeon supervisor.

The combination of two problems in the area of Sherman Way and Whitsett Avenue in North Hollywood creates a frustrating traffic delay that is a nightmare to deal with.

First, I think that the signal at the intersection is timed to favor northbound and southbound Whitsett traffic.

Also, eastbound Sherman Way motorists experience an extended delay getting through the intersection because of the overflow of motorists turning right onto the southbound Hollywood Freeway.

As soon as the regular signal turns red, the green-arrow signal goes on, and cars that tailed on yellow block the intersection for everyone else who has a green.

Would it be possible to have the signal's timing checked for accuracy to prevent these hassles?

- J.F., North Hollywood

A check of the intersection's signal timing revealed that the signal at the intersection for northbound and southbound motorists gives them almost as much time as eastbound and westbound motorists get, so that pedestrians have sufficient time to cross Sherman Way, said Brian Gallagher, a Los Angeles city Department of Transportation traffic engineer.

Alternatives such as installing pedestrian push buttons or underground vehicle sensors would not improve the congestion because the mostly eastbound traffic would have nowhere to go, Gallagher said.

Additionally, the problem only occurs during peak-hour congestion surrounding freeway on-ramps and off-ramps, Gallagher said.

Providing more green time for eastbound Sherman motorists turning onto the southbound on-ramp would not reduce congestion because sufficient time must be given for motorists from the preceding traffic movement to clear the intersection safely, Gallagher said.

No changes will be made because they would negatively affect the flow of traffic, Gallagher said.