Renovations in store for 23 Freeway

State commits more than $100 million

WORK BEGINS NEXT YEAR—The 23 Freeway as seen from the Sunset Hills overpass in Thousand Oaks. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

WORK BEGINS NEXT YEAR—The 23 Freeway as seen from the Sunset Hills overpass in Thousand Oaks. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

The state says it’s investing about $100 million over the next four years to improve the 23 Freeway between Thousand Oaks and Moorpark.

The job was listed this month along with 132 other projects Caltrans says will be paid for with $1.1 billion from SB 1, the state’s 2018 gas tax and vehicle registration hike.

Work on many of the projects began this summer, the agency said.

In all, nearly 47 lane miles between T.O. and Moorpark are scheduled for improvements. While the actual cost is $118 million, $18 million will be shouldered by the Federal High Administration, Caltrans said.

Expected to begin in late spring or early summer 2020, the work will include replacing pavement along the outer two lanes; repaving connectors, shoulders and all on- and off-ramps; and upgrading traffic signals and ramp meters at various locations.

Crews will also repair or replace guardrails, replace overhead and roadside sign panels with retro-reflective backgrounds to improve visibility, and increase safety and construct stormwater mitigation systems, Caltrans spokesman Eric Menjivar said.

Construction on all the improvements is expected to be finished by fall or winter 2023, Menjivar said.

Much of the work will be done at night to avoid traffic delays, but there might be some inconveniences, he said.

“The closure of lanes, on- and off-ramps, and connectors are expected for this project,” Menjivar said. “Caltrans will inform the local community of work hours and closures prior to when construction begins.”