CALTRANS WANTS TO RESTRICT USE OF HASKELL AVENUE EXIT.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer Access to the Encino-Sherman Oaks area - already limited by the temporary closure of a key 405 Freeway off-ramp - would be reduced further under a plan to keep motorists from using the Haskell Avenue exit. Caltrans proposes erecting permanent barriers this summer to prevent motorists taking the northbound north·bound adj. Going toward the north. northbound Adjective going towards the north Adj. 1. San Diego Freeway The San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405, and the part of Interstate 5 south of the El Toro Y[1]) is one of the principal north-south highways in Southern California, and the major beltway of I-5 running through Southern California. connector to the westbound Ventura Freeway The Ventura Freeway is a freeway in southern California running from Ventura to Pasadena. It is the principal east-west route through Ventura County and in the southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. from exiting at Haskell. The exit would remain open to motorists already on the westbound 101. Caltrans said the Haskell exit has been a long-running safety issue because motorists have to cross multiple lanes from the interchange to get to the off-ramp. But some residents question why the ramp would be blocked now, since the Greenleaf Avenue/Ventura Boulevard exit is temporarily closed as part of the separate project to rebuild the 101-405 interchange. ``Right now, it's very tough to get into the Ventura Boulevard-Sepulveda Boulevard area,'' said Jeffrey Kalban, an architect who commutes most weekdays between his Sherman Oaks home and his Westside office. ``What harm does it do to leave it open to everybody? At least until the Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. exit is reopened, at least keep it that way.'' But other residents said they had no problem limiting access to eliminate a dangerous situation. ``I don't think there are a lot of people who use it on a routine basis because it's difficult to get to,'' said Craig Buck Craig Werner Buck (born August 24, 1958) is a former volleyball player form the United States, who was a member of the American Men's National Team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics. , chairman of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council's parking, traffic and transportation committee. The state Department of Transportation has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday to discuss the plan. Caltrans has closed the Greenleaf/Ventura off-ramp from the northbound San Diego Freeway, as well as two other area on-ramps, as part of the $46 million, two-year project to rebuild the congested con·gest·ed adj. Affected with or characterized by congestion. congested ENT adjective Referring to a boggy blood-filled tissue. See Nasal congestion. 101-405 interchange. That off-ramp will remain closed until late this year as Caltrans builds an on-ramp to separate cars heading to the 101 from those going to the northbound 405. Under the Haskell Avenue proposal, which emerged separate from the 101-405 project, Caltrans would paint lines like those used to designate car-pool lanes, and erect flexible poles to prevent cars from crossing. The work would cost $40,000 and be complete in about three nights. Caltrans said an estimated 7,100 motorists a day use the off-ramp, though not all of those come from the 405 connector. She said that, despite any inconvenience the earlier closures have caused, the agency did not want to delay action on Haskell because it has been under discussion for more than five years. ``It's a safety situation. The ramp is just located too close to the connector,'' Caltrans spokeswoman Judy Gish said. ``It's just not an optimal situation.'' Longtime long·time adj. Having existed or persisted for a long time: a longtime friend; a longtime resident of Detroit. longtime Adjective Encino resident and activist Gerald Silver concurs - and believes the change may help the 101 freeway flow better if cars aren't braking for lane-changing drivers. ``I don't see any big problem with this. All it's going to do is protect suicidal su·i·cid·al adj. 1. Of or relating to suicide. 2. Likely to attempt suicide. drivers from their own misjudgment mis·judge v. mis·judged, mis·judg·ing, mis·judg·es v.tr. To judge wrongly. v.intr. To be wrong in judging. ,'' he said. ``In the long run, it's going to be better for everyone.'' But Kalban said that, while the ramp is dangerous from the 405 transition, it's better to leave it open as an option open for the times when traffic is light and motorists can more easily cross lanes. Otherwise, motorists are going to be forced to exit much sooner or later than they need to do. ``You gotta got·ta Informal Contraction of got to: I gotta go home. go miles, literally miles, out of your way,'' he said. ``If I can get there because there's not traffic, at least until the Ventura Boulevard exit is reopened, at least keep it that way.'' Lisa Mascaro, (818) 713-3761 lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO Caltrans will hold an informational meeting, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Sherman Oaks Galleria Sherman Oaks Galleria is a shopping mall and business center located in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, California at the corner of Ventura and Sepulveda Boulevards in the San Fernando Valley. Locals colloquially refer to the mall simply as "the Galleria. , Community Room, 15303 Ventura Blvd. CAPTION(S): box, map Box: IF YOU GO (see text) Map: 101 RAMP CHANGE SOURCE: Caltrans; Daily News research Warren Huskey/Staff Artist |
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