2-Year Project to Widen Freeway Stretch Ends
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State Department of Transportation officials ceremonially closed the books Friday on the widening of the Ventura Freeway in Woodland Hills, saying they were pleased that traffic moved smoothly throughout the two-year project despite a more than 10% increase in vehicles using the stretch.
At a news conference alongside the newly widened freeway, Jerry B. Baxter, Caltrans Southern California director, attributed the improvement in part to stepped-up ramp metering and quick response to disabled vehicles by Caltrans-retained tow trucks.
The $23-million project widened the freeway to eight lanes from Valley Circle Boulevard to Topanga Canyon Boulevard and to five lanes each way from Wilbur Avenue to Topanga.
The new lanes were created by narrowing existing lanes to 11 feet wide and using part of the median.
Much of the expense was incurred in widening several overpasses and in removing and repaving a section of broken pavement near Valley Circle.
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