Slab of steel falls onto Ventura Freeway, shutting down lanes

AGOURA HILLS - A slab of steel fell onto the Ventura (101) Freeway at the LA-Ventura county line today, prompting authorities to shut down three lanes of traffic for two hours, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The slab, which weighed an estimated 400-500 pounds, fell onto the eastbound side of the freeway at Lindero Canyon Road in Westlake Village about 12:30 p.m., said CHP Officer Krystal Carter.

A Caltrans crane or other lifting device was requested to remove the slab, and three of the five eastbound lanes of traffic at Lindero Canyon Road were shut down, Carter said.

A SigAlert was issued at 12:43 p.m., she said. The slab was removed, and full traffic flow resumed, at about 2:30.