Calabasas Mulholland Highway improvements finally begin

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers DIG IN- Workers begin the Mulholland Highway improvements in Calabasas.

Long-awaited improvements to Mulholland Highway in Calabasas are underway, city officials said.

When the work is complete, the Mulholland Highway corridor between Paul Revere Drive and Declaration Avenue will offer a safer and more visually appealing roadway for residents and visitors.

Since 1994, the city has been working on a Mulholland Highway Master Plan to help guide future improvements, beautification and safety enhancements along the well-traveled road.

Over the years, several drafts of the plan have been prepared by a variety of consulting firms. Following a series of workshops and much research and documentation, the city in 2004 okayed the master plan and necessary capital expenditures.

In 2006, more public workshops and hearings were held, and in February of this year the Calabasas City Council gave final approval to what is called the Mulholland Highway Roadway Improvement Plan. The project went out to bid.

In April, the council awarded a $550,000 contract to Ney and Nelson Inc. to excavate portions of the roadway, construct raised medians and planter strips, pour new top soil and install signage and striping. Landscaping for the project will be completed separately.

Both roadwork and landscaping will be completed later this summer.