City to reinstall traffic signal

DOWNEY - The City Council on Tuesday agreed to pay about $200,000 to reinstall a traffic signal at Lakewood Boulevard and Columbia Way that was removed several years ago as part of a beautification project on Lakewood Boulevard.The traffic signal's removal prompted complaints from residents, who were forced to take alternate routes to access the Columbia Memorial Space Center, Discovery Sports Complex or Kaiser Permanente hospital. Motorists traveling south on Lakewood Boulevard currently cannot make a left turn onto Columbia Way. Instead, drivers access Columbia Way by diverting onto Rose Avenue and then to James Street, or from Imperial Highway. Reinstalling the traffic signal will cost an estimated $211,000. Gas tax funds will finance $170,000 of the project, and additional funds will be appropriated when the contract is award, city officials said. Last year, the City Council agreed to pay $39,000 to KFM Engineering to prepare plans and specifications. The traffic signal should be reinstalled within 6-8 months, public works director John Oskoui siad.

********** Published: April 28, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 2