Big trucks disturb North Ranch resident

The truck traffic going to and from a new housing development is disturbing some residents in North Ranch.

Large construction trucks have been driving on Lakeview Canyon Road and Valley Spring Drive as early as 5:30 a.m. until as late as 4:30 p.m. during the week, according to some residents. The trucks are loud smelly, and an overall nuisance, said DeAna Di Gioia, a Valley Spring resident.

According to George Ehrhardt, Thousand Oaks construction inspection supervisor, the trucks are delivering dirt to a single-family home project in the Country Club Estates nearby.

“(Trucks driving those roads before 7 a.m.) I can do something about, but the trucks using (Valley Spring), I cannot,” Ehrhardt said. “I can’t shut (a project) down because they’re using trucks. The trucks have to be there.”

The trucks could use an alternate route, Ehrhardt said, but that road is near Westlake High School on North Lakeview Canyon Road.

“Traffic down there in the morning and in the afternoon is horrible,” Ehrhard said. “Whether the trucks use the south gate of Country Club or the north gate, it’s their choice. Somebody is going to be unhappy.”

Di Gioia said she’s been putting up with big trucks driving Valley Spring Drive for about a year and a half.

“Here we have a holiday, and no rest for us,” Di Gioia said on Martin Luther King’s birthday last week. “It’s awful.” She said the diesel fuel smell is annoying as well.

Recently, Ehrhardt said he spoke to project officials and was told the trucks would only be transporting dirt for a little longer. The project is nearly completed and the trucks will soon be gone, he said.

Ehrhardt was also going to make sure the trucks aren’t driving those roads before 7 a.m.

“It’s going to come to a close real soon,” Ehrhardt said.

But then another project will begin, Di Gioia said in response.