City using federal funds to realign roadway, install traffic monitoring devices.

The intersection of Newhall Avenue and Sierra Highway has been put under the microscope by the city of Santa Clarita. A new project, set to launch Monday, will alter the lane pattern on eastbound Newhall Avenue to help ease traffic through the area. The intersection is popular with commuters who use Sierra Highway or Highway 14 to travel to work.

The lane maneuver aims to add an additional area for eastbound commuter busses to load and unload passengers while not impeding traffic.

Additionally, the project will construct a landscaped median along Newhall Avenue and the traffic signal at Sierra Highway will be patched into the City’s Traffic Operations Center.

The project has been funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, one of five City projects using federal stimulus dollars.

After Monday’s start of construction, periodic lane closures will take place, although some of the work will be conducted overnight to avoid peak traffic hours.