Published: Monday, September 6, 2010
Tulalips plan to improve I-5 access
Greg Miner of Tulalip writes: 116th Street NE connecting Marysville and Tulalip over I-5 is a mess. Traffic backs up both eastbound and westbound because cars must turn left across oncoming traffic to reach I-5 either north or south. Cars waiting to reach the freeway prevent through traffic from proceeding as it's only a two-lane road with short left-turn lanes. Heavy truck traffic because of Donna's Truck Stop adds to the problem. It's also difficult to exit off the freeway onto 116th for the same reasons. Is there a plan for improvement?
George White, spokesman for the Tulalip Tribes, responds: The Tulalip Tribes have a plan to replace the I-5-116th Street NE interchange. The target date is 2013 if funding is available.
The plan involves replacing the existing three-lane bridge with a six-lane interchange similar to the one recently constructed at 41st Street in Everett. The new configuration will provide more eastbound and westbound lanes on 116th, and dual left turn lanes for access to I-5. Widened and realigned off-ramps will hold more vehicles and help prevent traffic from backing up onto I-5. Other improvements will include new signals, signs, lighting and stormwater management.
The interchange will remain open during each stage of construction. Temporary closures and detours will be required, but will be short and mainly at night. The plan is to build half of the bridge adjacent to the existing structure. Once completed, traffic will be switched onto the new structure while the old one is demolished. Then, the second half of the bridge will be constructed and when completed, all lanes will be striped to their final configuration.
The Tribes have already relocated the 34th Avenue NE intersection and signal away from the interchange (as it was also part of the problem); and restored and realigned Quil Ceda Creek to meet environmental requirements. The Tribes have set aside a portion of the money needed for the project and are seeking other funds.
Sidewalk hoops
David Nofziger of Edmonds writes: Is it legal for private basketball nets to hang over the curb line and sidewalks? In tight cul-de-sacs they can be quite irritating.
Tod Moles, street manager for the city of Edmonds, responds: According to Edmonds city code, any type of structure placed within the public right-of-way needs to have prior approval via a street use permit. As a general policy, the city does not allow basketball hoops on sidewalks or roadways due to the potential for vehicles to injure a basketball player on the street. To allow a basketball hoop to remain increases the city's liability risk.
We typically don't go hunting these things and what we have found is that on a cul-de-sac there are often many users of a basketball hoop and that the consensus is they would like it to remain. If the hoop is creating an unsafe condition we will pursue the removal, starting with a letter. We try to get one of the residents to allow the hoop to be placed within their driveway, but this isn't always possible.
We have forced the removal and there are times when it isn't a very popular requirement.
E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.
George White, spokesman for the Tulalip Tribes, responds: The Tulalip Tribes have a plan to replace the I-5-116th Street NE interchange. The target date is 2013 if funding is available.
The plan involves replacing the existing three-lane bridge with a six-lane interchange similar to the one recently constructed at 41st Street in Everett. The new configuration will provide more eastbound and westbound lanes on 116th, and dual left turn lanes for access to I-5. Widened and realigned off-ramps will hold more vehicles and help prevent traffic from backing up onto I-5. Other improvements will include new signals, signs, lighting and stormwater management.
The interchange will remain open during each stage of construction. Temporary closures and detours will be required, but will be short and mainly at night. The plan is to build half of the bridge adjacent to the existing structure. Once completed, traffic will be switched onto the new structure while the old one is demolished. Then, the second half of the bridge will be constructed and when completed, all lanes will be striped to their final configuration.
The Tribes have already relocated the 34th Avenue NE intersection and signal away from the interchange (as it was also part of the problem); and restored and realigned Quil Ceda Creek to meet environmental requirements. The Tribes have set aside a portion of the money needed for the project and are seeking other funds.
Sidewalk hoops
David Nofziger of Edmonds writes: Is it legal for private basketball nets to hang over the curb line and sidewalks? In tight cul-de-sacs they can be quite irritating.
Tod Moles, street manager for the city of Edmonds, responds: According to Edmonds city code, any type of structure placed within the public right-of-way needs to have prior approval via a street use permit. As a general policy, the city does not allow basketball hoops on sidewalks or roadways due to the potential for vehicles to injure a basketball player on the street. To allow a basketball hoop to remain increases the city's liability risk.
We typically don't go hunting these things and what we have found is that on a cul-de-sac there are often many users of a basketball hoop and that the consensus is they would like it to remain. If the hoop is creating an unsafe condition we will pursue the removal, starting with a letter. We try to get one of the residents to allow the hoop to be placed within their driveway, but this isn't always possible.
We have forced the removal and there are times when it isn't a very popular requirement.
E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.
Comments
(
