Bouquet Canyon Road is open, for now

A sign on Bouquet Canyon Road near Espuella Drive warns drivers of a possible road closure following a forecast rainstorm in late-October. Katharine Lotze/Signal
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A “well behaving” creek has led to an open road for canyon residents.

Bouquet Canyon Road is open as of noon Wednesday and is anticipated to remain open unless behavior of a creek, already performing well, changes, public works officials confirmed.

A federally-owned road through the Angeles National Forest the road is operated under permit by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

The department announced a lengthy closure of Bouquet Canyon Road last year after safety concerns over the flooding of Bouquet Canyon Creek prompted an immediate closure Oct. 27.

Those cautions were preceded by a lengthy history of traffic collisions in the area naturally prone to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.

Initially, it was announced that the closure would last until April 15, 2017, however, it was shortened significantly when county officials announced a middle ground approach to mitigate the safety concerns had been formed after a series a stories ran in The Signal highlighting the challenges faced by residents in the area.

During periods of rain capable of rising creek levels to the height of Bouquet Canyon Road, the thoroughfare would be closed from six miles south of Spunky Canyon Road to two miles north of Vasquez Canyon Road near Santa Clarita city limits.

Public Works spokesman Steven Frasher said the creek has “behaved” thus far.

“We’re always monitoring (the road) trying to take into account the performance of the creek,” he said.

Lately, Bouquet Canyon Creek has behaved better than expected and in turn, the road has been opened longer than initially forecast and with minimal closures.

But don’t assume that means residents looking to travel the road are out of the woods, so to speak.

If the creek behavior changes, Frasher said the roadway could be closed to thru traffic. This scenario has come to fruition a few times over the last month.

The spokesman urged motorists who rely on Bouquet Canyon Road through the Angeles National Forest to sign up for the county’s eNotify system.

The program sends out alerts to those who are signed up for it. For the most part, information is immediate and can be received by email or text message when a road closure is announced.

Instructions on how to sign up are on the Department of Public Works website, https://dpw.lacounty.gov.

This information is also expected to be available via an add-on to The Signal’s website in the coming days.

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