A $65.5 million widening project is moving toward a September 2009 completion date near Moorpark, Calif. Headed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the contract involves widening the Moorpark Freeway (State Route 23) from four lanes to six.

Funds for the project come from the State Transportation Improvement Program ($55.67 million) and federal funds ($9.85 million). The contract was awarded to Security Paving Company Inc., of Sun Valley, Calif., and the project manager is Hani Jamaleddine. Work began in April 2006.

According to Caltrans, the completed job will help to alleviate current congestion as well as anticipated congestion for projected traffic volumes through the year 2024.

Specifically, one additional lane will be added in each direction, bridges will be widened, and the connector ramp for southbound U.S. 101 to northbound State Route 23 will be improved. Other scheduled work includes constructing sound walls, installing detector loops and ramp meters for optimum traffic management, providing an overhead electronic changeable message sign to enhance public safety, and the addition of traffic signals at the Olsen Road on- and off-ramps. A fiber-optic closed circuit television system was requested and funded by the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

According to Jeanne Bonfilio of Caltrans, the major challenge with this particular job has been keeping the public, residents, and elected officials informed about its progress.

“All Caltrans projects are unique in their own way, and have one common goal — to improve mobility across California,” she said.

The contract involved a total of 16 mi. (25.7 km) of new mixed flow traffic lanes, resulting in 100,000 cu. yds. (76,500 cu m) of excavation, 60,000 cu. yds. (45,900 cu m) of total concrete, 700 tons (635 t) of bar reinforcement, and 3 mi. (4.8 km) of sound walls.

Major subcontractors include Anderson Drilling Co., Chino, Calif., drilling for pile foundations; Reycon Construction Inc., Santa Paula, Calif., for block walls for the sound wall construction; Superior Gunite, Lake View Terrace, Calif., for slope paving; and Regional Steel Corporation, Claremont, Calif., for all work for bar reinforcement.

Major equipment used on the job includes a 2003 Link-Belt HTC-8640 HL, a 1998 Athey mobile sweeper, a 2000 Manitex 2277C 22-ton boom with carrier, a Cat 928G loader with attachments, a 2002 John Deere 4310 tractor with A43, a 1992 Labounty CP80 Coc pulverizer, a 1993 Cat 235 D excavator, a 1998 Link-Belt RTC8065Xxi 65-ton rough, a 1991 Cat 623 E scraper, a 2001 Cat D8R track-type tractor, a 2000 Bartmill 300Bt milling machine, a 2001 Roadtec Rx60C cold planer, a 2004 Cat Ap1055B paving machine and a Bidwell paver T/C-600. CEG

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