SANTA CLARITA : Acceleration Lane Opens on Freeway
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Following delays caused by chilly and damp weather, Caltrans has opened a new lane on a mile-long stretch of the Antelope Valley Freeway that should ease traffic flow between Lost Canyon and Sand Canyon roads in Santa Clarita.
The new lane--known as an acceleration lane because motorists use it to speed up to merge into traffic--was opened Thursday. It is expected to carry about 300 cars per hour, according to state Department of Transportation officials.
The lane was delayed in January because nighttime temperatures were too cold to place the final layer of asphalt. Caltrans officials said the ambient temperatures must be at least 50 degrees or the asphalt will become hard and unpliable while it is being applied.
After the temperatures rose enough to allow workers to lay the asphalt, rains and damp weather kept workers from painting stripes on the roadway, Caltrans spokeswoman Margie Tiritilli said.
Three days of consecutive clear weather last week finally allowed for completion of the $800,000 widening project.
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