What's the holdup?
Ongoing road improvement projects in the city nearly complete
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers MEN AT WORK- Road construction on Tapo Canyon Road has been an annoyance for some drivers trying to get to and from city hall and the library.

Construction on two major Simi Valley street segments should be completed by the end of November, according to public works officials.

The $3.3million project to rehabilitate sections of Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street is in the final paving stage, said Ron Fuchiwaki, assistant director of public works.

The city's contractor finished the final paving of Alamo Street between Tapo Canyon Road and Lemon Drive last weekend. The portion of Tapo Canyon Road between Cochran Street and Avenida Simi is slated for final pavement early next week.

"Basically, it's a resurfacing- an overlay- of both those streets," Fuchiwaki said. "At the same time, we're also adding a second northbound left-turn lane on Tapo Canyon and Alamo."

The Simi Valley public works department is in the process of completing projects detailed in the fiscal year 2006-07 streets and roads program, which is part of the city's annual base budget.

The program is divided into major and minor street rehabilitation and other roadrelated improvements.

Included in the Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street project is the creation of right-turn lanes into the driveways of the police department and the Simi Valley courthouse.

According to principal traffic engineer Jim Brunner, other projects from the 200607 program included the installation of a new traffic signal at Tapo and Walnut streets and the addition of leftturn phasing at the intersection of Tapo and Alamo streets.

Both of those projects were completed earlier this year, Brunner said.

Driving in the west end of Simi Valley is being affected by a $3.2-million sanitation project underway on Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road.

The 40-year-old sewer line that runs along Los Angeles Avenue from Erringer Road to Madera Road is being relined and should be completed by early 2008.

"A lot of the detour work that you see out there is that project." Brunner said. "It's pretty noticeable."

The last project in current construction is the curb gutter and sidewalk repair and replacement program in the Indian Hills neighborhood and in another residential area off Sequoia and Los Angeles avenues.

The $435,000 project is expected to be complete by the end of November.

Road repairs budgeted for fiscal year 200708 are scheduled to begin in the spring of 2008.

A total of $7.9 million has been set aside for capital improvement projects throughout the city, with $6.7 million for road improvements alone.

The next major roads targeted for rehabilitation are segments of Sinaloa and Madera roads, and Royal and Yosemite avenues.

Fuchiwaki said the public works department is in the design stages of a $1.2-million freeway interchange landscaping project at First Street.