CALTRANS ROLLS OUT 138 OPTIONS.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PEARBLOSSOM - Caltrans unveiled options for widening Highway 138 from two lanes to four lanes, including its recommended option that avoids the historic Llano Del Rio Colony ruins.

In Pearblossom, the highway would be rerouted north of the existing alignment by 12 to 15 feet to avoid disrupting businesses, but Caltrans favors widening the highway along its existing route through Littlerock.

``After the EIR is complete (in April), we will go into design,'' said Caltrans project manager Abdi Saghafi. ``We will be done with the design in 2003. By then, we hope to have funding.''

Construction would take about three years, Saghafi said.

Residents can give their opinions on the report at a public hearing from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30 at Littlerock High School, 10833 E. Ave. R. Environmental impact report documents can be viewed during an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. before the hearing.

The draft environmental impact report for the $130 million project examines state Transportation Department plans to widen the highway from two lanes to four lanes between Avenue T and the Highway 18 junction.

The draft report includes a summary of a five-year study of traffic crashes that confirmed what Antelope Valley residents have said about the highway for years - it is deadly.

During the study period between April 1, 1994, and March 31, 1999, Caltrans determined that although the highway had fewer crashes than the state average, it had a higher than average number of fatal crashes.

There was a fatal crash rate of .049 per 1 million vehicle miles compared with the state average of .038. During the five-year study period, 25 people were killed and 354 people injured on Highway 138.

``The rolling profile and lack of passing lanes have resulted in a high number of cross center-line accidents,'' the report said.

The draft report said curves at 72nd Street East, 116th Street East, 175th Street East and Avenue W would be realigned and bridges at the California Aqueduct and Little Rock Creek would be widened. Bridges at Big Rock Wash would be replaced.

Caltrans is also listing what it calls design variation B of that plan as its preferred option. The variation would shift the highway south of its existing route near the Llano del Rio Colony ruins and then rejoin the existing highway near the Llano post office near 172nd Street East.

Caltrans is looking at variations of the design that would keep the highway work clear of the Llano del Rio Colony ruins - rock pillars and a chimney from a hotel plus rock walls and a silo from a dairy barn that represents the remnants of a socialist settlement that existed between 1914 and 1918.

The Llano Del Rio Colony is a California historical landmark and is listed in the California Register of Historical Places.

The first option, listed in the impact report as variation A, would move the highway about 20 feet south between 165th and 175th street east to avoid the ruins.

Design variation C would realign the highway 394 feet south of the existing alignment near the ruins and rejoin the existing alignment east of 175th Street East. The highway would be raised 15 feet and drainage culverts would be installed.

The report examined proposals to move the highway south around Littlerock, but said it would require substantial amounts of right-of-way purchases and would disrupt Littlerock's economic life. Business people and others have expressed concerns about whether widening the highway through Littlerock would require demolishing or moving buildings.

Variation D would take the highway south at 70th Street East, veer east toward Avenue V and then travel along Avenue V to 82nd Street East. At 82nd, the alignment would veer south to Fort Tejon Road and then go east until it rejoins the existing highway.

Variation E would go south at 70th Street East to Avenue V and then east along Avenue V to the existing alignment.

Antelope Valley civic leaders have been pushing for the widening of Highway 138, the region's main east-west corridor, for several years. Civic leaders cite the number of fatal crashes and collisions and projections of increased traffic volumes in the near future.

Traffic projections show the highway is expected to climb from about 21,000 vehicles a day to more than 34,000 by 2024.

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Map: Route 138 Alternatives