Question: We would like to know why there are not free right-turn lanes on Highway 532 and 72nd Avenue NW.
Sometimes the backup is really long, and there you sit waiting to take a right turn going on 72nd Avenue NW, either north or south.
All that would need to be done to move traffic a little faster is to clean up the chuckholes and put a little blacktop or good gravel on the road. I don’t understand why it wasn’t done long ago.
This area of Stanwood is really growing and traffic is like coming off the ferry. Could someone give it some thought?
Al and Barbara Gisselberg, Stanwood
Answer: We agree that right-turn lanes are needed at the Highway 532 intersection with 72nd Avenue NW.
We plan to add controlled right-turn lanes as part of our 270th Street NW to 72nd Avenue NW improvement project. Preliminary engineering is under way and the project is scheduled for construction in the summer of 2008.
The south leg of 72nd Avenue NW already has a right-turn lane. As part of our project we will add three more right-turn lanes. To do this, we will widen Highway 532 at the intersection and upgrade traffic signals.
The improvements will help separate turning vehicles from through traffic, relieve congestion and enhance safety.
Matthew Curry, state Department of Transportation spokesman
Turn lanes could help
Question: I was interested in The Herald’s recent story about Highway 9 improvements.
One of the intersections which has not been addressed is Highway 9 at 108th Street NE (Lauck Road).
This is the one that goes to the Marysville-Pilchuck High School. This intersection needs a stoplight. Is there any information in your research about the possibility of this happening? Who could I contact about getting this intersection on the agenda?
Ron Sailer, Marysville
Answer: The state Department of Transportation is working on solutions for the Highway 9-Lauck Road intersection.
Collision data shows that the majority of incidents at this location are rear-end and sideswipe collisions involving drivers traveling in the same direction.
Our engineers believe that turn lanes are the most effective way to reduce the risk of these types of collisions. Turn lanes will help separate turning vehicles from through traffic, reducing the risk of collisions and alleviating congestion.
We are working to widen this intersection to provide northbound and southbound left-turn lanes, a southbound right-turn lane and an eastbound right-turn lane from Lauck Road.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2007.
More information is available at wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR9/108thNE_Lauck/.
Matthew Curry, state Department of Transportation spokesman
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