FAST WORK SOUGHT FOR 'BLOOD ALLEY'.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, is seeking a ``traffic safety emergency'' exemption in federal highway regulations to expedite the widening of Highway 138.

In a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, McKeon asked for an exemption for Highway 138 be made in the 2001 Transportation Appropriations Act now being drafted. The exemption would allow design work and property acquisition to begin prior to the completion of environmental studies.

Federal regulations required the environmental studies be complete before any work can begin to widen the highway, which Antelope Valley residents have dubbed ``Blood Alley.''

``My proposed legislation would create a narrow, one-time exception to federal regulations that will speed up construction of vitally needed additional lanes to the most bloody highway in California,'' McKeon said.

McKeon said the legislation would still allow for environmental reviews.

``Caltrans will still have to complete an environmental impact report and that report will still be circulated to the public for input,'' McKeon said.

Since 1995, there have been 89 deaths on Highway 138 between Antelope Valley Freeway (14) and Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass.

For much of 138, the highway is just two lanes. Many of the accidents on the highway are caused by impatient drivers trying to pass slower traffic.

Caltrans is looking to add two lanes to the highway between Palmdale and Highway 18 in a series of five projects. Caltrans has $42 million for the construction of the first two projects, which would widen the highway between Palmdale and 165th Street East.

Work on the first project is projected to begin in 2003 and be completed in 2005.

Caltrans is seeking $83.1 million in the state's 2000 transportation improvement program for the other three projects that would widen Highway 138 from 165th Street East to Highway 18.

Caltrans has $6.5 million for design work on those three projects.