Q. Hello Mr. Honk. There was a recent story in The Orange County Register about the upcoming project to widen and improve the 55 Freeway. One point that raised an eyebrow for me was the plan to narrow the lanes from 12 to 11 feet. I would have guessed the lanes currently are as narrow as they can safely, and maybe legally, be. Can you please enlighten me on what the actual law states regarding the width of freeway lanes in California?
— Mark Smith, Santa Ana
A. Of course, Mark. That is how the ol’ Honkster makes a living.
Caltrans guidelines call for 12-foot-wide freeway lanes but they allow exceptions. And Caltrans is allowing some of the lanes on this $475 million project that will add a regular and a carpool lane in both directions for the four miles between the I-5 and I-405 freeways to skinny up a bit.
Transportation officials wanted to reduce the amount of land adjacent to the freeway that needed to be taken by purchase or eminent domain.
So. …
Caltrans agreed to allow the center median to shrink from 20 feet to eight, and five of the lanes in each direction will be 11 feet instead of 12. Two lanes on both sides still will be 12 feet wide.
Honk’s abacus tells him that creates 11 more feet on each side — enough for two new lanes.
“Variations to lane widths are common, and safe, throughout the state because of issues with freeway projects such as site constraints, funding restrictions, or environmental concerns,” Eric Carpenter, a spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority, which is partnering with Caltrans on the project, told Honk in an email.
“The variation from the standard lane width is allowed by Caltrans and it means the project can safely add a second carpool lane (on each side) without increasing the right-of-way requirement and without further impacting adjacent properties,” he said.
Q. Do you have any idea when they might start doing repairs on the Reseda Boulevard off-ramp on the 118 westbound? For several years there was one lane barricaded off, then months ago the right lane sank about a foot. They have installed K-rails and closed the off-ramp in April. It is a major off-ramp for the university and stores. The closure also impacts the Tampa Avenue off-ramp, which was already busy. Is there any ETA about when they might work on it and reopen the off-ramp?
— Paula Paggi, Northridge
A. Yes … and no.
Work is expected to begin soon out there in the Porter Ranch area, but it is unclear when the ramp will reopen.
In short, a sinkhole was discovered in 2019, and there have been problems with a nearby manhole and a drain as well.
“In April 2022, we noticed the sinkhole grew in size and it was decided to close the ramp for the safety of our motorists,” Eric Menjivar, a spokesman for Caltrans, told Honk in an email.
Caltrans geologists recently noticed that nearby Rinaldi Street is “now getting a slight depression” as well.
“We need a permit from the city of L.A. and we need to close a lane of Rinaldi,” Menjivar said.
Paul Gomez, a spokesman for the L.A. Department of Public Works, said the permit for work on the city’s right-of-way was submitted in April.
“(The project) had to go through a series of reviews, so it takes time,” he said. “It sounds like it’s fairly close … on the approval.”
Honk has made a mental note to keep Honkland updated on this project.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
