Empire Avenue

Three lanes added to Burbank Boulevard bridge; final phase of project to improve the intersection with Victory Boulevard.NORTHWEST DISTRICT -- Three new lanes on the Burbank Boulevard bridge are expected to open this week, signaling the near-completion of a five-year road improvement project. The north side of the bridge has been under construction since the spring to add a second left-turn lane, another through lane, and a new right-turn only lane. Railing and sidewalk work, however, still remains to be done on the south side of the bridge, requiring one lane to be closed in November and December, City Planner Greg Herrmann said.

Laura Sturza BURBANK -- Concerns that a city and Caltrans plan would divert traffic to residential streets surfaced at a public meeting about the proposed traffic-relief project. The city will be ready to curb runoff traffic with measures including installing speed humps to discourage diverting drivers, officials said. The Jan. 23 meeting addressed proposals to extend Empire Avenue beneath the railroad tracks to connect with San Fernando Boulevard and to relocate the southbound Golden State (5)

After reading the Feb. 2 Leader, it looks like we can expect more speed humps on Burbank streets, this time around Empire Avenue side streets. This is almost getting to be a regular joke around our fair city: Whenever people find alternate routes that are faster, they get slapped down by the transportation planning gurus who want to slow them down. Here is the way Burbank handles traffic problems: First we build a huge new shopping center, then city officials are "surprised" that there is more traffic in that area, then they put up speed humps and stretch chokers which constrict street openings, thereby diverting traffic to main arteries that are already congested, and then they sit around and ponder where to build the next new shopping center in order to avoid the congestion that the last one created.

Paul Clinton CIVIC CENTER -- The Planning Board will hold a public hearing May 1 on the Burbank Empire Center. Following the hearing, the five-member board will evaluate the project and its environmental impact report. The board must decide whether to recommend approval of the $200-million retail project -- possibly the largest development in the city's history -- to the City Council. Los Angeles-based Zelman Development Co. plans to build a mix of retail stores, office space and two hotels on the 103-acre former Lockheed Martin Corp.

The following items were taken from reports filed at the Burbank Police Department: ? 1600 block of North San Fernando Boulevard: A 27-year-old man from North Hollywood was arrested Saturday on suspicion of being drunk in public after he was found urinating in public. 1800 block of Empire Avenue: A Burbank woman reported Saturday that her purse, which contained a wallet, cellphone and digital camera, was stolen from her shopping cart at Target. 300 block of South First Street: Police responded to the Residence Inn on Monday regarding a disturbance.