Stoplights at 23 and Olsen have commuters seeing red
Public displeasure triggers Caltrans to rethink off-ramp at Olsen Road
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers UNWELCOME ADDITION- The two Caltrans traffic signals recently installed at the intersection of Olsen Road and Highway 23- one of which is seen here- have led to peak-hour logjams, driving commuters into a frenzy. Reports say traffic is up backed from the freeway all the way to Wood Ranch Parkway during rush hour.

In the past two weeks, Simi Valley commuters trying to enter or exit the 23 Freeway at Olsen Road during peak-hours have been greeted with a traffic backup bad enough to test even the most patient of drivers.

The cause: a Caltrans project aimed at making improvements to the off-ramp, which included the installation of two new traffic signals that now stop traffic where it once flowed continuously.

Local drivers such as Arleigh Kidd quickly noticed the project's effects on traffic congestion.

"I was coming home one day from Thousand Oaks, and all of a sudden traffic was backed up all the way onto the freeway," Kidd said. "I thought for sure there was an accident . . . but when I finally exited, I saw it was the traffic signal causing the problems."

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers REMEDY- Caltrans sent out a press release Tuesday to let the public know that the northbound off-ramp at Olsen Road will be re-striped for a free right turn lane. Modifications are expected to be completed by the end of this month, which will improve traffic noticeably, Caltrans said.

According to Simi Vally traffic engineer Jim Brunner, the city became flooded with calls from angry drivers, which prompted the city to contact Caltrans.

"(Caltrans) said they've done a study out there, and basically they've decided to go back to the old striping before the signal was installed," Brunner said. "When you come off the 23 in the northbound direction and come off at Olsen, the right lane will be a free light lane again. It will always be green."

Caltrans released a press release this week stating that "Modifications are expected to be completed by the end of May 2007; however, improved traffic flow is anticipated to begin before then."

The report also said induction loops are also going to be installed to improve flow. "It appears this is still going to take two weeks to get this resolved," Brunner said.

City Manager Mike Sedell said the Caltrans project for Olsen Road and the 23 Freeway was "flawed" to begin with, but that the city did not receive prior notice the signals were going in.

"We let them know right away the problems it was causing for Simi Valley drivers, both leaving town and returning home," Sedell said. "We got reports that traffic on Madera getting onto the 23 was backed up all the way to Vista Lago (Road)."

Caltrans spokesperson Judy Gish was contacted for this story but did not return calls in time for deadline.