Access to popular shortcut through Saugus street to be restricted.

Saugus residents who live in the area around Benz Rd. will be getting some traffic relief, courtesy of a recent decision by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The Board recently voted to install signs to prohibit turns from Copperhill onto Buckhorn Lane for two hours a day during rush hour. Signs will be installed on Copperhill and Bouquet Canyon Road to prevent drivers from using Benz as a thoroughfare. The signs will restrict traffic from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Benz Road was built by Los Angeles County long ago, before the City of Santa Clarita was incorporated. Benz became a cut-through when Copperhill Drive opened to Bouquet Canyon Road. Since then, Benz has handled an estimated 3,300 car trips a day.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich also recommended exploring the possibility of placing a fire gate where a cul de sac once stood at Cross Creek and Canterwood drives. The county Department of Public Works will to county Fire Department officials and look into getting a right-of-way from affected homeowners.

Traffic engineers from the City and the county  will monitor the traffic for about 3 months to see if the signs are helping, and will consider extending the restriction to four hours if needed.

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