Restriping could improve Highway 9

Q: I commute through the Highway 9 and Hewitt Avenue intersection every day.

During the morning and afternoon commute, many cars turn from northbound 9 onto westbound Hewitt.

Unfortunately, the turn lane is so short if there are more than eight cars in the northbound lane — or even just one semi truck — cars either have to wait in the northbound lanes, missing their turn at the turn signal, or cut across the double yellow line to get into the turn lane. (And lots of them do it, which is probably illegal.)

Would the department of transportation restripe the lanes to lengthen the left turn lane and reduce the number of cars crossing the double yellow line?

Sue Grigsby, Everett

A: Dongho Chang, Snohomish-area traffic engineer with the state Department of Transportation, said his department will look into extending the northbound left turn lane with a simple restriping of the roadway.

They will also review the signal timing for the northbound left turn lane to ensure they have allowed adequate time for turning.

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