Tweaks to yield sign may help fix 41st Street mess

Tom Stephenson of Bothell writes: The 41st Street interchange in Everett is a scary mess.

My afternoon commute takes me westbound on 41st, then south on I-5. My turn is controlled by a traffic light, in this case a green arrow. I’m constantly amazed at drivers heading eastbound on 41st, turning onto southbound I-5. They have only a yield sign, and either don’t see the sign, don’t see the turning traffic, or don’t care, and come bombing around their corner.

About four of every five days I have to stop or slow at the last second to avoid getting hit. Often the drivers jump over to the far left lane. Several times, I’ve had to slam on the brakes because I would otherwise T-bone the offending driver. Adding insult to injury, a tap of the horn usually earns a middle finger — quite the mood-brightener when I have the green arrow. While I agree the design of the interchange is effective at moving large volumes of traffic, the state can’t really believe it’s safe. Are any changes being considered?

Dave Chesson, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, responds: After observing the eastbound right turn to the I-5 southbound on-ramp, we plan to move the yield sign on the right-hand side of the ramp farther around the curve. This should help make the sign more visible for right-turning drivers. We’ll also check the size of the existing sign and, if necessary, we’ll change it to the largest size available. We’ll take a look at adding a second yield sign on the left-hand side of the ramp. We expect this work to be completed in mid-February.

Lotty Stout of Lake Stevens writes: Twice in the past few months, on 172nd Street NE and I-5 in Smokey Point, I have seen drivers coming southbound off the freeway failing to slow down and then crossing over all four lanes of traffic to make a left onto 27th Avenue NE.

The distance from the end of the ramp to the light is very short. The first time this happened I was driving the speed limit on 172nd in the right lane and the car coming off the ramp did not even pause. It was all I could do to stop my car in time to prevent hitting her.

All four lanes of traffic came to halt to allow this driver to make it across to her desired position in traffic. Is there any way to do something to keep drivers from doing this?

My suggestion would be to have a median or a curb on the right side of 172nd to divert the traffic from the ramp to the right lane on 172nd westbound and then they can make their way across or actually do the safe thing which would be to make a right at 27th, turn around and then drive south on 27th Avenue NE.

Chesson of the transportation department responds: Curbing can’t be installed in the roadway on that stretch but there are some other measures that can be taken.

Lanes must meet minimum requirements for width, and installing curbing would require widening the roadway and adding a third westbound lane for the off-ramp. Also, a curb there would interfere with other drivers’ ability to make legitimate lane changes if they’re turning onto 27th.

However, similar to the situation at 41st Street in Everett referenced above, we plan to raise the height of the yield sign on the right-hand side of the off-ramp, possibly replace it with a larger sign and consider adding a second sign on the left-hand side of the ramp, also by mid-February.

E-mail us at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.

Look for updates on our Street Smarts blog at www.heraldnet.com/streetsmarts.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.