Untying the traffic

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    Dear Mayor Keller:

    This is in response to your letter dated June 30, 1999, regarding the Pacific Coast Highway rehabilitation projects, between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and the Ventura County line.

    I apologize for the inconvenience and disruption to the Malibu residents these projects caused, and I am concerned about the damages to the personal property caused by the loose gravel.

    Although there is no painless way to perform this type of roadwork, the following corrective measures and improvements are being instituted to minimize disruptions to the city of Malibu residents and potential damages to the private vehicles.

    1. Reduce speed (40 mph) traffic advisory signs are placed at the beginning of and adjacent to work areas.

    2. Additional “Loose Gravel” construction warning signs are placed throughout work areas.

    3. Contract Change Orders are issued to direct the contractor to complete paving work within two days of cold planing for areas that have not been disturbed. The current contract specification allows the contractor up to seven days to complete paving work.

    4. For the area north of Trancas Canyon Road, the contractor is directed to complete both cold planing and paving work within a 24-hour lane closure per recent traffic study.

    5. Since the contractor is responsible for all damages to the private property caused by his operation, we have withheld money from the contractor until such time that all claims are resolved.

    6. We mailed claim forms to those people who claimed damage to their vehicle due to loose gravel within construction zone, and have provided address and phone number for filing claims.

    7. We also will provide blank claim forms to the city of Malibu for distribution to its residents who have had damages to their vehicle due to loose gravel within construction zone.

    8. Our traffic engineer and maintenance electrician were sent out to reset the signal timing at all signalized intersections along Pacific Coast Highway.

    9. We have directed the contractor for these two projects to provide better traffic management during their operations.

    If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Mr. Scott McKenzie, construction engineer, at 310.306.8791.

    Thank you for your letter and the opportunity to provide you the information.

    Robert W. Sassaman,

    acting district director,

    Department of Transportation