Mill Creek Area Signal Improvements

Description

Snohomish County public works used extra funding from a federal safety grant awarded in 2012 to improve traffic conditions at five additional intersections in the county:

• Airport Road / Admiralty Way in north Mill Creek / South Everett
• Airport Road / East Gibson Road in north Mill Creek / South Everett
• 128th Street Southwest / Eighth Avenue West intersection in north Mill Creek / South Everett
• 128th Street Southwest / Fifth Place West intersection in north Mill Creek / South Everett
• 164th Street Southwest / Meadow Road in Mill Creek

Crews installed new "near side" signal posts on the right side of each intersection, beyond the shoulder and sidewalk but still visible from the road.

The traffic signals suspended over the center of each intersection were hard to see during peak traffic times, especially if large vehicles like box trucks or semis with trailers blocked drivers' views. Side-mounted signals adjacent to the overhead intersection signals helped, but could also be blocked by large vehicles.

The new “near side” signals assist drivers approaching the intersection see a traffic signal sooner and reduce the risk for collisions.

Traffic Impacts

Construction began in early October 2013. Crews closed portions of the sidewalk during installation. Pedestrian detour routes were marked so that cyclists and pedestrians could safely get around the work zone.

Work History

Snohomish County public works previously used funds from a federal safety grant to improve traffic conditions at three busy intersections in the county in summer 2012:

• 128th Street Southwest / 4th Avenue W intersection in south Everett
• 164th Street Southwest / 36th Avenue W intersection in the Lynnwood area
• 164th Street Southwest / Ash Way intersection in the Lynnwood area