WYMAN CALLS FOR WIDER 138.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PEARBLOSSOM - Assemblyman Phil Wyman will author legislation asking for $108 million to widen Highway 138 and demanding that two bridges where at least six people have died are the first spots expanded.

Wyman is seeking to cover a funding gap in the $184 million project to widen the highway from Palmdale to the San Bernardino County line.

The bill will also direct the state Department of Transportation to immediately work on the twin bridges over the Big Rock Creek, the scene of a 1995 crash that killed three people, a 1999 crash that killed one man and a 2000 collision that killed a man and a woman.

``Highway 138 is a death trap that must be widened to provide safety for residents of the Antelope and Victor valleys,'' said Wyman, R-Victorville. ``My bill will appropriate the funding needed to complete the full widening process, and will take special aim at the most deadly part of this important High Desert roadway.''

Wyman submitted draft legislative language Friday to the state Legislative Council's Office and will submit a bill next month.

A lawsuit over the 1995 collision is set to start trial next month in Palmdale. Three families whose relatives died in the crash say Caltrans had known previously that the twin bridges area east of Pearblossom had an excessive fatality and injury crash rate but did nothing.

Widening of the Los Angeles County portion of Highway 138 is considered the top transportation priority by Antelope Valley officials.

Dubbed ``blood alley'' by Antelope Valley residents, Highway 138 had what a state study concluded was a higher-than-average number of fatal crashes over a five-year period. The fatal crashes were attributed to the highway's rolling profile and lack of passing opportunities for motorists.

As an interim effort to provide relief, Caltrans plans to spend approximately $54 million to add about six miles of passing lanes and turning lanes on certain segments of the highway.

Work providing the first installment of passing lanes, between Longview Road and 146th Street East, would begin in early 2003. Other segments would get attention between 2004 and 2006.

The current Caltrans plan calls for passing lanes to be added in four areas: around Cheseboro Road, between 96th and 106th streets east, between Longview Road and 146th Street East, and between 175th Street East and Largo Vista Road.

The plan also calls for adding a left-turn lane in two segments, between 77th Street East and 89th Street East and between 126th Street East and Longview Road.

The twin bridges area is the only stretch of highway for several miles where drivers have no shoulder to drive onto in case an oncoming vehicle crosses the center line.

Also, a dip in the roadway east of the bridges hides approaching vehicles from eastbound motorists, residents say.

The highway has been marked with no-passing signs for years, but motorists frequently pass anyway. The 1995, 1999 and 2000 crashes were all caused by motorists illegally crossing the double-yellow line.