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Council votes 5-0 to close Arneill bridge for roadwork
Public Works Director Tom Fox said the bridge, which spans the 101 Freeway and intersects with Ventura Boulevard at the heart of Old Town, will be closed for two weeks sometime in midJune. The closure plan was given the okay late last week by the Old Town Camarillo Merchants Association when the ad hoc committee of local business owners was presented with the project during a meeting with city officials. Fox said the city originally tried to work out a plan that would have kept the busy intersection open throughout construction, but that would have extended the project's timeline to at least six weeks. "It has to be done, and we discussed what would have the least impact on our businesses," said Debbie Rice, owner of FastFrame, which sits near the intersection. "We felt that this was the lesser of two evils." Fox said the roadwork is part of the third phase of a five-year plan to give the historic thoroughfare a fresh look with lighting, landscaping and street upgrades along the shop-lined boulevard. Both Rice and Georgette Hadvina, owner of Citron Garden interior design shop, said the city and the contractor, Berry Construction, have been good about communicating with the local business owners about the boulevard's progress. Hadvina said construction has hurt her business to some degree, but said the improvements will help attract shoppers to the collection of stores. "Eventually it's going to be gorgeous when it's done," Hadvina said. The third and final phase of the Old Town redevelopment project is slated to be completed by fall, Fox said. The final end date will depend largely on how construction is affected by the city's upcoming roster of summertime events along Ventura Boulevard. The Camarillo Fiesta and Street Fair will be July 13 to 15, while the Camarillo Art and Jazz Festival will close down the boulevard August 10 to 12. |
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