118 widening threatened

Officials have been trying for years to widen the 118 Freeway in and around Simi Valley. They thought it was all a go. But now, The Times' Greg Griggs reports, money problems might force a major downsizing. As Greg notes:  "Traffic on the stretch of the 118 Freeway increased from 110,000 vehicles daily in 1998 to 117,000 today. With no improvement, traffic planners estimate two-hour delays during morning and evening peak periods each weekday will double by 2025." More:

With work already underway to widen a key portion of the 118 Freeway, Ventura County officials say there is only enough money to expand one side of the busy roadway and are appealing to the state this week for more funding to complete the project. The California Transportation Commission initially allocated $50 million for the project, but higher construction costs left only enough to add an eastbound lane from Tapo Canyon Road in Simi Valley to the Los Angeles County line, officials said. When county officials asked for an additional $32.7 million to complete the westbound portion of the freeway, the state Transportation Commission staff erroneously classified it as a new project rather than a cost increase and recommended that the request be rejected, officials said.

Comments

[Bill]

Why two lanes on the 118 westbound suddenly disappear after the Rocky Peak exit is not anything that makes sense. Just how many cars exit there, anyway ? Most are going to Simi Valley, Moorpark, or points west. This reeks of the wonderful improvements to I-5 in Orange county which fall apart at the LA county line. (5 lanes become 3)

[Mike]

I found the best way to deal with traffic is to move. As a ex San Fernando Valley resident, I was tired of traffic in the 80's. I moved to NW Wisconsin. We have no traffic what so ever. I bought a beautiful 2,500 sq foot home for 106,000 and am living life rather than waisting time driving in traffic. Wake up LA !