Has Kanan interchange made things worse?

I looked forward to the Kanan interchange project to help the flow of traffic going from Kanan Road onto the 101 freeway. We all owe our thanks to the Agoura City Council for arranging the funding of this project.

However, before anyone starts celebrating about the nearing completion of construction, we need to remember what the goals of this project were. Unless the goal was to build ramps with beautiful surrounding rock gardens at the expense of traffic flow onto the 101, then it appears at this point that this project has failed to meet its goals and has actually made things worse.

Prior to construction, there were three lanes of traffic going south on Kanan that could enter the 101, two left lanes that could turn onto the 101 eastbound after waiting at the traffic light and a right lane that could turn westbound.

Now all traffic that is going to the 101, north or south, needs to merge into one lane. Consequently, traffic sometimes backs up all the way to Thousand Oaks Boulevard. After this wait, one still has to deal with a traffic signal at the entrance ramp. The middle lanes of the bridge are wide open, since almost everyone is waiting to turn right. In short, one lane to enter the freeway eastbound slows traffic more than having two lanes. This week, to my disbelief, a bike lane was painted in the midst of this mess instead of a second lane for cars to turn onto the freeway.

Suggestions for fixing the mess are: Get rid of the traffic signal preventing cars from turning right onto the eastbound entrance ramp. It is too dangerous a location for pedestrians and only serves to impede traffic flow.

Designate the far right lane of Kanan for cars turning onto Canwood west and the 101 west only.

Allow the next two lanes approaching and crossing the bridge to turn onto the loop instead of only one lane.

Place overhead signs directing drivers what to do.

Get rid of the bike lane before there is a fatality.

Replace the left turn signal for cars trying to turn left from Kanan onto the new Canwood to avoid collision.

I hope that between the Agoura City Council and Caltrans, this project can be salvaged. What this community deserves is a properly completed, safe and efficient Kanan/101 interchange, not another "Mission Accomplished." Evan Bachner Agoura Hills