By El Latino Newsroom
redaccion@latinocc.com
Motorists across Ventura County should prepare for traffic delays as multiple state and county road projects continue along key travel corridors through the week of January 5, authorities said.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Ventura County Public Works Agency are overseeing several long-term infrastructure projects aimed at improving road conditions, but which will bring intermittent closures and detours.
Caltrans’ slope repair project on State Route 118 in Somis, between Sand Canyon and Balcom Canyon roads, is expected to continue until winter 2026.
Daytime construction and overnight lane closures will occur periodically throughout the duration of the work.
A retaining wall project on State Route 150 north of Bridge Road will keep one lane closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through June 2026.
Reversible traffic signals will manage flow in both directions.
There are no official detours in place. Southbound travelers from Ojai trying to avoid delays can take Highway 101 to Highway 126 toward Santa Paula.
A 2.4-mile pavement rehabilitation project on Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark will run through fall 2027.
Daytime shoulder and sidewalk closures and overnight lane restrictions will be in effect from Spring Road to Montair Drive.
From Jan. 5 to Jan. 9, Caltrans is conducting moving operations in both directions between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., with right lane closures at intersections including Tierra Rajada Road, Maureen Lane, Leta Yancy Road, and Moorpark Road.
Northbound drivers can use Princeton Avenue to reach High Street and bypass Los Angeles Avenue.
Those coming from Simi Valley, Camarillo, or Somis may take Tierra Rajada Road for access to the city’s west side.
A nearly four-mile stretch of Vineyard Avenue in Oxnard is under rehabilitation as part of Caltrans’ State Route 232 project, which is scheduled for completion between late 2026 and early 2027.
K-rails are installed along northbound Vineyard Avenue from Simon Way to the Juvenile Center.
From Jan. 5 to Jan. 9, the southbound right lane will be closed with moving operations between Simon Way and Collins Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Additionally, there will be overnight closures near the northbound Highway 101 on-ramp from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Newbury Park Neighborhood, Thousand Oaks
The Ventura County Public Works Agency is also working in a residential area of Newbury Park, east of Newbury Park High School and Borchard Community Park.
Crews are performing sidewalk repairs, concrete improvements, and road resurfacing on Lesser Drive, Jenny Drive, and Ruth Drive.
The project is expected to be completed by April 2026 and may impact residents in the area.
Weather-related closures possible
A winter storm that began on New Year’s Eve has already affected parts of Ventura County.
Caltrans warns that closures may happen without notice due to falling debris, mudslides, flooding, or accidents.
For up-to-date information on road conditions and closures, motorists are encouraged to visit the Caltrans QuickMap website.
Man dies in creek
A man lost his life Monday after being swept into a rain-swollen creek along North San Marcos Road, prompting a multi-agency search and rescue effort during severe storm conditions.
The incident occurred just before noon, when family members called 911 around 11:58 a.m. to report that an adult male had been carried away by fast-moving water in Maria Ygnacio Creek, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency crews from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, Air Support units from both Santa Barbara and Ventura counties responded to the scene. Rescue operations were complicated by heavy rainfall and dangerous conditions in the area.
After nearly two hours of searching, responders located the man deceased at approximately 1:50 p.m.
His body was found in the creek near the intersection of San Marcos Road and Via Parva. Authorities have not yet released his identity, pending notification of his family.
With storms continuing to bring significant rainfall to the region, local officials are warning residents to avoid all waterways, including creeks, rivers, and drainage channels.
“Water levels can rise quickly and currents are often stronger than they appear,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in a public advisory. “Never try to cross flooded roads or walk near swollen streams. If you come across flooding, turn around — don’t drown.”
The tragedy highlights the ongoing danger posed by winter storms in Santa Barbara County, especially as emergency officials brace for more rain in the coming days.
Verizon to pay $7.7 million
Verizon Wireless will pay $7.7 million to settle a statewide civil enforcement case after authorities uncovered environmental violations at hundreds of the company’s cell tower sites across Southern California, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced.
The settlement follows a multi-agency investigation that found Verizon had failed to comply with California hazardous materials laws at numerous facilities.
Beginning in January 2019, the company allegedly neglected to submit accurate Hazardous Materials Business Plans to the California Environmental Reporting System, failed to keep copies of those plans onsite, and did not adequately train employees to respond to hazardous materials emergencies.
The violations occurred at sites where Verizon uses lead-acid batteries, petroleum products, and above-ground fuel tanks to power emergency backup systems.
According to prosecutors, the company also refused inspection access at multiple locations and failed to pay permit fees that fund local environmental oversight programs.
“These reporting and safety requirements exist for a reason,” said Nasarenko. “They ensure that first responders and public safety officials can act quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency involving hazardous materials.”
While there was no evidence of environmental harm, prosecutors said Verizon came into compliance only after being approached by investigators.
The case was filed in Orange County Superior Court and brought by the district attorneys of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, and San Diego counties, along with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.
Of the $7.7 million judgment, over $7.1 million will go toward civil penalties, with the remainder allocated to investigative costs and Supplemental Environmental Projects that promote environmental health.
Ventura County’s share includes more than $813,000 for the District Attorney’s Office and additional funds for the Oxnard Certified Unified Program Agency and Ventura County Environmental Health.
The judgment not only penalizes Verizon for its past conduct but also requires the company to maintain compliance moving forward.
Nasarenko said the case serves as a warning to other corporations that environmental regulations must be taken seriously.
