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Politics & Government

Reyes Adobe/101 Interchange One-Third Done

Street overlay and median work are the last two stages that remain.

One-third of the work on the 101 Freeway/Reyes Adobe Road interchange is complete. The first stage of the bridge's modification is finished. Street overlay and median work are the final touches. 

The project's general plan is to widen the west side of the existing three-lane bridge to accomodate six lanes, including left-turn pockets. Additional improvements to the tight diamond interchange include sidewalks on both sides of the bridge, decorative lighting and railing, and landscaping on each quadrant of the interchange.

These modifications to the interchange were first pursued in August 2004. The approval process, according to City Engineer Ramiro Adeva, involved an initial evaluation of likely costs versus impact, a project report, and finally, plans, specifications and estimates. The city approved the plans with state agency Caltrans on June 30, 2009. 

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Originally slated without federal money as a necessary and overdue improvement to local infrastructure, the February 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) or "stimulus package" refueled the Reyes Adobe Interchange Project. With $80.9 billion of ARRA funds set aside for infrastructure maintenance and apportioned to cities based on population, Agoura Hills was granted $690,000 for the Reyes Adobe Road Interchange project. 

Apart from stimulus money, funding for the $12-million plan was obtained through a federal grant, a Metropolitan Transit Authority grant, future tax revenues expected from increased productivity and redevelopment agency funds earmarked for public works projects.

Find out what's happening in Agoura Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Construction by management firm Parsons and construction company Powell Constructors began in November 2009. The current phase of construction, set to be completed in November 2010, consists of renovations to the northbound on-ramp, southbound off-ramp and additional sidewalks. Stage 4, which will occur in late December 2010 through January 2011, will  include street overlays. Final completion of the project is scheduled for February 2011.

With the renovated interchange, the city aims to increase pedestrian activity, spotlight an "important city gateway" and generally improve access to and from Agoura Hills, according to the project's planning staff.

Read Allyson Ranallo's Cause to Celebrate for a different side of the story.

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