Q: Exiting from Frontier Village in Lake Stevens onto Highway 9, or straight toward Everett, is not allowed. You have to turn right down Vernon (Frontage) Road and somewhere turn around and travel back south on Vernon Road to turn onto Highway 9 or go straight. That is reinforced with barriers and a "No U-turn" sign on Frontage Road.
Are the traffic engineers in this area really out of their minds? Are any changes planned to make this intersection more functional?
Steve Godwin, Marysville
A: "I completely understand the reader’s frustration with the intersection layout at the exit from Frontier Village to Highway 9," said Dongho Chang, engineer with the state Department of Transportation.
"This restriction is the result of the close intersection spacing between Frontier Village shopping center entrance, Vernon Road and Highway 9," he said. "There is an alternate way for the reader and other patrons using Frontier Village to access Highway 9. You can drive north in the Frontier Village parking lot and make a left on N. Davies Road."
N. Davies Road connects with Vernon Road, within a block, which allows motorists to drive westbound on Highway 204 toward Everett at the Highway 9 intersection.
Chang said the DOT received a preliminary proposal from Frontier Village to expand the retail area of the shopping center. The proposal included plans to locate another access from Frontier Village to Vernon Road, several hundred feet north of the existing access.
The new access would allow customers to make left turns onto Vernon Road, which would help with the current circulation confusion.
But those plans are only preliminary.
Have a question about traffic or street rules around Snohomish and Island counties? We can help find an answer. Send questions by fax to 425-339-3435; e-mail to newstips@heraldnet.com; or address to Street Smarts, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206. Include your name and phone number.
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