MAKING MORE ROOM—Starting in December, Madera Road will be widened from Presidential Drive west to the city limits. JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers Madera Road, Simi’s westernmost north-south thoroughfare, will be widened this winter without a significant impact on traffic, the head of public works assured residents this week.

“During peak hours, (7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.) we won’t allow any construction or any lane closures,” said Ron Fuchiwaki, director of public works. “Our project will only allow a reduction in traffic lanes during nonpeak hours, so the commuters shouldn’t be impacted at all.”

The City Council awarded a contract on Nov. 16 to C.A. Rasmussen Inc., the lowest bidder, for the construction of the Madera Road widening project. The road will be widened from Presidential Drive to the western city limits, just past the old sheriff’s station.

The project includes extending an existing 16-foot landscaped median west to the city limit and constructing a curb, gutter, sidewalk and retaining wall.

Street lights will be installed by Southern California Edison.

In addition, the project will also provide a 12-foot-wide right-turn lane at the driveway to the former East Valley Sheriff’s Station, which is often used for overflow parking for events at the Reagan Library.

The total project cost is estimated at nearly $2.5 million, $1.8 million of which will be paid for out of the city’s 2009-10 Streets and Roads budget, which includes both federal and local funds.

The remaining project costs will be covered by the Ventura County Transportation Commission, which had money remaining from the completed 118 Freeway sound wall and the Erringer Road landscaping and traffic improvement projects. In addition, the city entered into an agreement with Caltrans to receive federal funds.

Fuchiwaki said work on the project should begin by early December, though actual construction activities might not occur on-site until mid-December. Completion is expected by March.

The contractor will be required to maintain adequate traffic flow and pedestrian access during construction. However, from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., lanes can be closed to access the work site, Fuchiwaki said.

Since Madera is a major thoroughfare for residents going in and out of town, some locals may be inconvenienced by the road widening. But Fuchiwaki is confident it won’t cause a problem for most.

“We always manage these projects to try to minimize impact on traffic,” he said.