Monroe to improve left turns at intersection

Craig McKelvey of Monroe writes: At the intersection of U.S. 2, Main Street and Old Owen Road, vehicles turning left onto westbound U.S. 2 from Main frequently swing very wide across both lanes of the intersection to get to the Albertsons entrance on the north side (which is very close to the intersection).

This creates a lane conflict with drivers on Old Owen who stop for the red light, then make a free right turn into the outside lane of westbound U.S. 2.

Shouldn’t left-turning traffic aim for the inside lane or slow down to yield to right turning traffic entering the outside lane before moving over into that same lane? Who has right-of-way in this situation?

The situation is complicated by the acute angle between the two roads at this intersection, making it difficult for a driver on Old Owen to perceive the speed or intent of the oncoming left turn traffic. Can any changes be made to the intersection to resolve this problem?

Dave Chesson, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, responds: Craig is technically correct. According to the Washington Driver Guide: “Turn from the lane that is closest to the direction you want to go and turn into the lane closest to the one you came from. When making turns, go from one lane to the other as directly as possible without crossing lane lines or interfering with traffic. Once you have completed your turn, you can change to another lane if you need to.”

In other words, drivers making a left turn should turn from the left-most lane into the closest lane. Likewise, drivers making a right turn should turn from the right-most lane into the closest lane.

However, things are a little tricky at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Main Street (Old Owen Road). As Craig points out, the streets cross at a fairly acute angle. This angle makes it difficult for northbound left-turning traffic from Main Street to turn into the inside (left-most) lane on westbound U.S. 2. The typical turning path tends to carry northbound left-turning drivers from Main Street to the outside (right-most) lane of westbound U.S. 2.

State law (RCW 46.61.290) accounts for situations like this by stating that drivers should turn into the left-most lane whenever practicable. In this case, because of the angle of the intersection, most drivers aren’t able to easily or comfortably turn into the left-most lane. Once drivers complete their left turns and are in the right lane, it’s a straightforward maneuver for some of those drivers to choose to make a right turn into that driveway.

Another section of state law (RCW 46.61.055), drivers on southbound Old Owen Road can make a right turn on red to westbound U.S. 2 after stopping, but drivers must stay stopped to allow pedestrians and vehicles already within or approaching the intersection to complete their movements. In other words, drivers who want to make a right turn on red should look for traffic approaching not only from their left on westbound U.S. 2, but watch across the intersection for left-turning traffic from Main Street.

The city of Monroe is currently working on a project to improve this intersection.

When completed, northbound Main Street will have a separate left-turn lane, through-lane, and right-turn lane. In addition, the left turn-lanes on northbound Main Street and southbound Old Owen will be lengthened to provide more room for vehicles waiting to turn. The project, however, won’t change how left-turn maneuvers are made from northbound Main Street to westbound U.S. 2. That would require rebuilding the intersection to bring it as close to a 90-degree angle as possible. Neither the state nor the city have plans for such a project.

E-mail stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Include your city of residence. Look for updates on our Street Smarts blog at www.heraldnet.com/streetsmarts.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge redo linking Everett, Mukilteo delayed until mid-2024

The project, now with an estimated cost of $27 million, will detour West Mukilteo Boulevard foot and car traffic for a year.

Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
New EvCC learning resource center opens to students, public

Planners of the Everett Community College building hope it will encourage students to use on-campus tutoring resources.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman announces his retirement after 31 years of service at the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police chief to retire at the end of October

Chief Dan Templeman announced his retirement at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He has been chief for nine years.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teen boy identified in fatal shooting at Everett bus stop

Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15, was shot at a Hardeson Road bus stop earlier this month. Police arrested two suspects.

Car crashes into Everett apartment, displacing residents

No one was injured in the crash late Friday, according to Everett police.

Mike Bredstrand, who is trying to get back his job with Lake Stevens Public Works, stands in front of the department’s building on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Bredstrand believes his firing in July was an unwarranted act of revenge by the city. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lake Stevens worker was fired after getting court order against boss

The city has reportedly spent nearly $60,000 on attorney and arbitration fees related to Mike Bredstrand, who wants his job back.

Chap Grubb, founder and CEO of second-hand outdoor gear store Rerouted, stands inside his new storefront on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Gold Bar, Washington. Rerouted began as an entirely online shop that connected buyers and sellers of used gear.  (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Used outdoor gear shop Rerouted finds a niche in Gold Bar

Seeking to keep good outdoor gear out of landfills, an online reselling business has put down roots in Gold Bar.

Naval Station Everett. (Chuck Taylor / Herald file)
Everett man sentenced to 6 years for cyberstalking ex-wife

Christopher Crawford, 42, was found guilty of sending intimate photos of his ex-wife to adult websites and to colleagues in the Navy.

Most Read