New turn signal coming to Highway 104 near Edmonds ferry

A new turn signal will help drivers trying to head west off Highway 104 near the Edmonds ferry thanks to a Street Smarts reader.

Bill Anderson, who has lived in Edmonds for about 25 years, has watched traffic steadily increase on Dayton Street and Highway 104 (also known as Sunset Avenue and Edmonds Way where it meets Dayton).

Turning left from the highway onto Dayton has become increasingly difficult. Ferry lanes and the Sounder station only add to the mix, causing delays for drivers waiting to turn left from Dayton.

“The intersection already has left turn lanes. I would think installing new traffic signals with left turn arrows and pressure plates to control the signals would involve minimum expenditure,” Anderson said.

Well, we had to wait over a year to get a response on this one from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

But they are taking Anderson’s advice for at least one of the roadways involved.

“We have looked at this intersection, and determined that adjusting the left turn controls from SR 104 onto Dayton Avenue would improve operations,” said Tom Pearce, a spokesman. “In the next six to eight months we will add additional vehicle detection equipment in the roadway and add a new traffic signal for the left turn lanes from SR 104/Edmonds Way to Dayton Avenue. In addition to the standard red and yellow lights, the new signal will have a green arrow for protected left turns and a flashing yellow left turn arrow, which will allow vehicles to turn when there is enough space to safely do so.”

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