Date: April 21, 2021
District: District 7
Contact:
Peter Jones
Phone: (213) 500-6985
Michael Comeaux
Phone: (213) 500-5840
LOS ANGELES, CA (April 21, 2021) — Caltrans District 7 Maintenance crews will be out in force across Los Angeles and Ventura counties to mark Earth Day on Thursday, April 22. The trash abatement effort highlights the department’s priority to remove litter and debris that has accumulated rapidly on the transportation system during the pandemic. Waste management companies estimate that Californians generated 30 to 40 percent more trash per day in 2020 – some of which ended up on the highways.
“Litter increases the risk of fire, pollutes our waterways, threatens wildlife and costs taxpayers millions of dollars to remove. We ask all Californians to be part of the solution, dispose of trash responsibly and secure cargo loads before getting on the road,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin.
The California Highway Patrol enforces litter laws and reminds drivers to properly dispose of trash and properly secure cargo loads. Officers issued more than 3,100 tickets last year alone – lit cigarettes accounting for one third of the total.
Unsecured cargo loads pose safety concerns for the traveling public. The law requires motorists to tarp all cargo loads prior to travel. This action keeps debris from impacting the environment and prevents items from entering the roadway and causing traffic incidents.
“With everyone’s efforts to put trash in designated receptacles, we can beautify Los Angeles, protect our waterways, and focus Caltrans Maintenance crews on fixing the roads,” said Caltrans District 7 Director Tony Tavares.
In 2020, Caltrans District 7 removed 1.9 million square feet of graffiti – enough to paint 39.9 football fields; removed nearly 17,000 cubic yards of material from unsheltered encampment sites – enough to fill 675 standard garbage trucks; and removed over 23,000 cubic yards of litter – enough to fill 925 standard garbage trucks.
On Thursday, April 22, there will be a volunteer group cleaning up southbound US Highway 101 at the Cahuenga Boulevard off-ramp. This force of 15 employees from Solar Energy Partners will assist Caltrans in clearing a recurring location for litter and debris. (Time 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
On Saturday, April 24, volunteers from the city of Lynwood will plant Crape Myrtle trees and Lantana and Plumbago shrubs along the eastbound Interstate 105 ramp at Long Beach Boulevard as part of its Earth Day events. (Time 8 a.m. to noon)
Reminder: When crews and emergency responders are working, remember to Move Over; it’s the Law, and to Be Work Zone Alert.
See the Caltrans Earth Day Video at https://youtu.be/GNEJiQ8RQn0
A list of select locations where crews will be cleaning up on April 22 that would provide good images for media. All times are 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.:
East Region
- eastbound SR-91 Norwalk on-ramp to Bloomfield off-off-ramp
- southbound and northbound I-605 Rosecrans off-ramps
- north & southbound I-5 Carmenita on- & off-ramps
- westbound SR-60 Golden Springs to Diamond Bar off-ramp
- eastbound SR-60 Nogales Street straight on-ramp to Fairway off-ramp
- eastbound I-10 from I-605 to Vincent, including ramps
- westbound I-10 Sunset off-ramp through West Covina Parkway; Fairplex on-ramp to Kellogg off-ramp
- southbound I-710 Slauson to Firestone to Gage including on- & off-ramps
- southbound SR-57 Arrow Highway to SR-71
- east & westbound I-210 between I-605 & SR-57 to San Bernardino County line
- east- & westbound I-210 between Michilinda & I-605
South Region
- northbound US 101 Sunset off-ramp
- southbound US 101 Melrose on-ramp
- I-10 between I-110 & the East LA interchange & picking up litter on I-5 & US 101
- north & southbound I-110 between Adams & Manchester; I-110 Sepulveda to Carson & SR-91 @ Main St
- I-5 Indiana to Broadway
- SR-60 Santa Fe to Indiana
- SR-103 SR-47 & PCH
- westbound I-105 at I-110
- east & westbound I-105 sweeping California to Atlantic
- I-110 @ Wilmington
- north & southbound I-405 Manchester to Imperial
- north & southbound I-710 Imperial to Imperial Highway
North Region
- southbound US 101 Sepulveda Boulevard to Barham Boulevard
- eastbound I-210, Big Tujunga Wash to La Tuna Canyon Road
- northbound I-710, Walnut Street to California Boulevard
- north & southbound SR-2 L.A. River to Colorado Street on- & off- ramps
- southbound I-5 near Castaic Lake to lower crossover
West Region
- northbound I-405 Culver Boulevard on- & off-ramp
- northbound I-405 @ National Boulevard
- eastbound I-10 Robertson off-ramp near Metro railway
- westbound SR-90 to Centinela off-ramp
- northbound PCH, McClure tunnel to Entrada
- northbound US 101 Desoto to Fallbrook
- north- & southbound US 101 Hampshire to LA County line
- northbound US 101 Main Street to Seacliff
- southbound US 101 @ Johnson Drive
- northbound US 101 & SR-23 Santa Clara River Bridge
- eastbound SR-118 Stearns on-ramp
- east & westbound SR-118, Saticoy bridge to Santa Clara.
- westbound SR-126 Kimball to Victoria.
- east & westbound SR-150 Baldwin to Topo Lane