By Nestor CASTIGLIONE

Representatives from Caltrans heard an earful from local residents on Thursday night at the Crescenta Valley Town Council (CVTC) monthly meeting at the La Crescenta Library community room.

Frustration was bubbling over lane closures and traffic snarls that have cropped up since Caltrans began work on a multi-phase, nearly $150 million project to improve a 9.7 mile stretch of the I-210 stretching from Los Robles Avenue in Pasadena to Dunsmore Avenue in La Crescenta. Currently in its second phase, the project is slated to be complete by 2018, according to Caltrans.

Reza Fateh, the project engineer, assured residents that Caltrans was working with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to improve the flow of traffic.

“We are in contact with the CHP,” he responded to a resident. “They will be out to enforce the traffic speed and calm traffic.”

Fateh also promised the installation of more warning signs to remind people to slow down.

For many residents, a source of concern was traffic that now spills out onto Honolulu Avenue and Montrose Avenue.

“It’s backed up all the way to La Crescenta Avenue sometimes [from the onramp],” said one woman.

Another was worried about ramp closures and how that affects traffic. She expressed worry specifically for how a car can manage the construction zones alongside large vehicles.

“Speeding big rigs have come close to running me off the road,” she told the Caltrans delegation.

Caltrans expressed an understanding of residents’ plight. But they said their own options to mitigate these issues are limited. Restriping and the addition of merging arrows were suggested as possible solutions. It was also suggested that residents consult the Caltrans website to be aware of closures and to be mindful of the effects on traffic.

Following the question and answer session from Caltrans, Supervisor Michael Antonovich arrived at the meeting to receive an award from the CVTC.

Antonovich will be termed out this year following 36 years of service on the county Board of Supervisors.

In a ceremony saluting the supervisor, CVTC Recording Secretary Cheryl Davis praised Antonovich as “the father of the town council.”

“He has done so much for us,” she said. “He helped install crosswalks, improve our library, and open our dog park.”

Kaipo Chock, president of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, praised Antonovich as “a great asset to community” who “loves kids.”

“It has been an honor to represent you all these years,” Antonovich told the council and audience. “It’s been an honor to implement possibilities that actually help the area.”

He then closed out his brief speech by asking the community to “stay involved.”

“I’ll stay involved,” he added.

  Nestor CASTIGLIONE