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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge)   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, October 19, 2009 How to fix junction of U.S. 2 and Hwy. 9 By Bill Sheets, Herald Columnist Douglas Thompson of Lake Stevens asks: When traveling Highway 9 at the junction of U.S. 2 one must maneuver two stop lights about a stone’s throw apart. My question: Why didn’t they construct a clover leaf at that point? There is an elevated road and it appears there is adequate land available surrounding the junction. There is an increasing number of traffic lights on the highway, and they are expensive to install and maintain and impede traffic flow. Richard Warren, project manager for the state Department of Transportation, responds: Increased growth and development in Snohomish County has led to increased traffic and congestion on many of our highways, including Highway 9. Since 2005, we have made targeted improvements to Highway 9 to improve traffic flow and safety. Between 2005 and 2013, we will invest $325 million to improve the highway through Snohomish County. We do not have plans or funding to improve the U.S. 2-Highway 9 interchange in Snohomish at this time. However, with comments from residents and local officials, we are developing a list of improvement projects for the corridor between Highway 522 and Schloman Road in Arlington. This includes Highway 9. The study, scheduled to be finished in the spring, will be a tool to help legislators and local agencies make decisions on where to invest funding along the corridor. Potential inexpensive improvements for the U.S. 2-Highway 9 interchange include restriping the Highway 9 bridge to four lanes, adding lanes north and south of the interchange and adding turn lanes at the U.S. 2 onramps. Longer-term, more expensive improvements include replacing the existing Highway 9 bridge with a five-lane bridge, building a loop ramp from southbound Highway 9 to eastbound U.S. 2 and improving the onramp to westbound U.S. 2. You can find out more about the Highway 9 route development plan on our Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR9/RoutePlan. Highway 99 visibility Susie Balasa of Everett asks: There have been several accidents at the corner of 108th Street SW and Highway 99 in south Everett (myself included). One cannot completely see all three lanes of southbound traffic while trying to merge onto the highway. Because of obstructions, one needs to be almost halfway into the first lane of traffic to see, and the speed limit is 45 to 50 mph on that section. How about making one lane as right-turn-only lane onto 108th? This would make it a little safer and easier for those of us just trying to get onto the highway. Dongho Chang, traffic engineer for the city of Everett, responds: The visibility of the right-most southbound lane on Highway 99 is blocked by vegetation for drivers waiting at the left turn lane on 108th Street SW. We contacted the property manager for Casablanca Apartments and received assurance that they will trim the vegetation. We have carefully considered a new traffic light and changing one southbound Highway 99 lane to a right-turn-only lane at 108th Street SW. The intersection does not currently meet the traffic volume or collision criteria for considering a traffic light, but we will monitor this intersection. The road is a state highway and any safety changes, such as a traffic light, must be approved by state Department of Transportation. Changing one southbound lane to a right-turn-only lane is very creative, but we foresee an increase in southbound collisions because of drivers changing lanes to get out of the right-turn-only lane or suddenly stopping. This also would reduce the southbound capacity on the highway by 33 percent, which would create traffic backups and bigger safety problems than the one we be attempting to solve. E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out Cheap answer How about just timing the three lights that clog up Hwy 9 (2 at US 2 and 1 at 56th St SE) so that traffic can flow through the entire section at one time....... I don't think that would cost very much. Steve Haley | Oct 19, 2009 8:08 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal if you don't build it, they won't come... . ---hasn't that always been the philosophy of eastern county residents? How's that working out? cme everett | Oct 19, 2009 2:06 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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