Debby Ames of Lake Stevens writes: Why not install a left turn arrow at 56th Street SE at Highway 9 for traffic going eastbound from the Snohomish Station (Fred Meyer, Kohl’s) shopping center, turning northbound onto the highway?
A left turn arrow would help to clear the traffic more quickly, especially on weekday afternoons.
Bronlea Mishler, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation, responds: Our traffic engineers have looked several times at the possibility of installing a left-turn signal from 56th Street SE (near King Charley’s) to Highway 9.
Unfortunately, doing so isn’t as simple as putting up a new signal with a left-turn arrow. To make a dedicated left turn pocket, we’d need to significantly widen 56th and we simply don’t have the funding for that right now.
We do have a project in the works to build a new interchange at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Bickford Avenue. That project will begin construction next year and add an overpass to separate turning traffic from through traffic on U.S. 2.
This new interchange should help reduce the amount of westbound 56th Street SE traffic trying to reach Highway 9 and make it much easier and quicker for traffic leaving Snohomish Station to head east or west on U.S. 2.
Chris Logiudice of Marsville writes: Can anything be done about the road at the intersection of 88th Street NE and State Avenue in Marysville? It is really bumpy from all directions of traffic especially when a vehicle passes over the train tracks.
John Tatum, traffic engineer for the city of Marysville, responds: The answer has two parts. First, the intersection itself contains some items causing rough riding, including a manhole cover and a box for a water valve that are below the level of the pavement. The city is planning work within a couple of weeks to raise those items to the same level as the street. Because of the high traffic volume at the intersection, the work will have to be done at night. The city also plans to refresh crosswalks and markings.
Second, the rail crossing must be treated as a separate matter. Work at the crossing must not only deal with the very heavy intersection traffic, but also with the train traffic. Work this close to the tracks requires permit approval from BNSF railroad and would have very restrictive time windows to accomplish any work.
Because of the time issues and coordination required between the city and railroad, the city is not planning any crossing work until there is a major roadway project.
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