HALFWAY THERE— City Councilmember Steve Sojka thanks construction crews and Caltrans for enabling the first phase of the Ronald Reagan Freeway widening project to be finished "ahead of schedule and under budget" at a ceremony on Tuesday. The $46.5million project added an extra lane to the eastbound 118 between Tapo Street and Kuehner Drive and constructed nearly 3.7 miles of sound walls. Phase Two, which will add a fourth lane to the westbound 118 starting at the county line, is expected to begin late summer 2009 pending fund availability.