Work Begins on Kanan Tunnel Project

A $7.2 million project aimed at revamping two of three sets of tunnels on Kanan Dume Road near Malibu got underway Thursday.

Traffic has already be reduced to one barrel of the tunnels for the project, which is expected to take a year.

The maintenance work is focused on installing steel liners for T-3 and T-2, the two tunnels located closer to Agoura Hills. T-1, which is closer to Malibu, is not included in the project.

“We want to make sure the tunnels are lined properly,” said Mike Kaspar, a spokesman for L.A. County Public Works. “When we are done with the one barrel, we will move over to the other.”

Earlier this week, crews installed signs warning motorists to slow down, re-striped the northbound lane to allow for traffic in both directions and put in cones to differentiate the lanes, Kaspar said.

Dana Fineman of Malibu said she is concerned about the project, especially because many motorists normally use the tunnels to pass slower vehicles.

“People are just conditioned. It’s just a knee jerk reaction so people are not thinking,” Fineman said.

Fineman said she drives up and down Kanan at least once a day, and that other than a sign at Agoura Road in Agoura Hills, the signage is not adequate coming down Kanan Dume Road from the valley.

“They need to put a big flashing sign. I can see the way people are driving, everyone is confused. They don’t know what to do,” she said.

Earlier in the week, before the cones were installed, she said the unsafe traffic flow nearly caused an accident.

“When I first went up, there wasn’t even yellow lines painted yet. It was done so unprofessionally for our tax dollars,” Fineman said, adding that she witnessed a sports car drive in opposing lanes.

A few other motorists complained about the lack of notice about the project.

Motorists looking for an alternate route to the 101 Freeway can take Mulholland Highway to Las Virgenes Road.