ASK MS. TRAFFIC : COLDWATER CANYON TURN FOR VENTURA FREEWAY CLOGGED SOLID.

Any motorist who has to get onto the Ventura Freeway at Coldwater Canyon Avenue in Sherman Oaks knows about the frustrating delays and ridiculous traffic jams caused daily by traffic in the turning lanes leading to the on-ramps.

Usually only one motorist gets through the green signal due to all the north- and southbound Coldwater Canyon motorists clogging up the intersection and turning onto the on-ramps.

I sent a letter to the Department of Transportation, but they said the signal wasn't necessary.

Can anything else be done to have a left-turn arrow signal installed?

- E.K., North Hollywood

Brian Gallagher, a Los Angeles Department of Transportation traffic engineer, said a left-turn signal will not be installed, citing observations made by the department's field representatives.

A recent six-hour study of the westbound left-turn pocket revealed that most cars are able to turn during the green and yellow lights. During peak morning hours 99 percent of the cars in the left-turn lane are able to make the turn.

One of the more difficult time periods for making the left turn is between 3 and 4 p.m., due to heavy traffic, Gallagher said.

Installing a left-turn signal at this intersection would hinder traffic, he added.

What happened to the bike lane on the west side of Fallbrook Avenue in West Hills?

When the road was repaved and restriped, the bike lane wasn't replaced. Speeding motorists now use it as a passing lane.

Is the city planning to reinstall this bike lane?

- D.B., West Hills

Los Angeles Department of Transportation officials checked the location and found that one of the ``Bike Lane'' signs posted on Fallbrook Avenue south of Vanowen Street was missing, according to Ray Wellbaum, a traffic engineer.

A new sign will be posted by Friday, he said.

The bike lane markings - including painted pavement markings - were added in December.

An obstructed view of the stop sign at the corner of Serrania Avenue and Avenue San Luis in Woodland Hills is creating the potential for a deadly accident.

Large tree limbs hide the view of the stop sign posted at the intersection for the safety of many pedestrians, including elementary school children.

A crossing guard was killed at this intersection a few years ago and I have personally witnessed two close calls involving youngsters.

Please see about having the tree limbs trimmed to avoid a terrible accident.

- T.H., Woodland Hills

Representatives from the city's Department of Public Works, Street Tree Division, checked the location June 5 and they did not find any tree overgrowth, said Greg Monfette, a tree surgeon supervisor.

Monfette said that a ``Stop Ahead'' sign is clearly posted there and can be seen by motorists.

Northbound Van Nuys Boulevard motorists turning left at Chase Avenue in Panorama City are lucky if even two cars have sufficient time to turn during a green signal phase.

Extending the green time at this intersection just a few more seconds would help the flow of traffic.

- C.W., Panorama City

Your concern resulted in a study and subsequent improvements made to the signal's timing at this intersection, according to Brian Gallagher, a traffic engineer with the city's Department of Transportation.

Gallagher said a new timing plan was added June 13, which increased the green time for the northbound left turn signal by 10 seconds.

The time on vehicle detectors was also extended to accommodate more cars, he added.

MEMO: Send questions to Ms. Traffic, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91365-4200. Please include your full name and a daytime telephone number. Be as specific as possible, including names of streets, freeways and intersections.