After 12 crashes that have resulted in injuries, property damage and two fatalities, Caltrans has started construction work to address safety concerns at an intersection in Norwalk where the 105 Freeway ends at Studebaker Road.
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn called the intersection a “crash magnet” in a letter to the California State Transportation Agency because of the freeway’s abrupt end.
“The medical building that used to operate on the other side of the road has since been closed due to the number of times it was struck by vehicles,” Hahn wrote in the letter.
She asked the state to prioritize the intersection for future funding.
“The end of this freeway has been badly designed and will probably lead to more fatalities unless corrected,” Hahn wrote.
Caltrans has started a project to install rumble strips on the exit ramp, a safety feature that vibrates vehicles when they cross them. A flashing signal on top of “End of Freeway” signs, “KEEP CLEAR” pavement markings, and a crosswalk at the signal at the intersection will also be installed.
“Caltrans is also in the process of beginning a separate project that would enhance intersection lighting,” the statement continued.
A Caltrans spokesperson told LAist that officials from the state Transportation Department met with city officials last August to begin talks about addressing the dangers at that intersection. The transportation agency has since had regular meetings with the city, as recently as last week.
