New Stripes to Improve Intersection

Dear Traffic Talk:

Two or three years ago, the traffic light at Foothill and Tujunga Canyon boulevards in Tujunga was made into a three-way signal. This was a good move since this was a dangerous intersection.

But a problem has arisen. When the light is green for northbound Tujunga Canyon drivers, motorists turning right from Foothill onto Tujunga try to sneak past the light and merge into traffic.

Could a “no turn on red” sign be installed to try to stop this? And maybe a right-turn arrow for motorists turning right from Foothill to Tujunga Canyon when southbound traffic is green?

This would make the intersection safer.

Alan R. Byler

Tujunga

Dear Alan,

Workers will resurface this area and make a striping change within two weeks to allow northbound traffic at Tujunga Canyon at Foothill to merge more easily, said Irwin L. Chodash, East Valley District engineer at the city Department of Transportation.

Engineers recently improved the operation of the traffic signal and will further review its timing, he added.

According to Chodash, engineers found that westbound drivers on Foothill turning right on red at Tujunga cut into the northbound lane at every opportunity, instead of yielding to northbound motorists who have the green. Prohibiting right turns on red usually solves this problem, but there are so many drivers turning right that such a restriction would cause more confusion and congestion, he said.

Dear Traffic Talk,

There is a dangerous situation outside the Sherman Oaks Post Office at 14900 Magnolia Blvd. Drivers are constantly parking illegally on the red curb in front of the drop boxes, particularly between 3 and 5 p.m., which blocks other motorists from using the boxes to deposit their mail.

Consequently, drivers double park on Magnolia to use the drop boxes. What can be done?

Raymond McHugh

Sherman Oaks

Dear Raymond,

To report this problem, call the Valley parking enforcement office’s 24-hour complaint board at (818) 756-9418.