Some traffic signals operated by city, others by state, at troubled 522 Woodinville on-ramp

In KIRO Radio’s Chokepoints series, we take a closer look at the traffic issues plaguing commuters in the Puget Sound region.

Jason sent us a note about Highway 522 in Woodinville. Not the highway itself, but the access to it and from it on 131st Avenue.

It’s the connection to Highway 522 where drivers have to go under the BNSF railroad tracks then up the hill before they get to the light at the on-ramp.

If you’ve even tried to make it to Chateau St. Michelle for a concert and you used 522, you know this spot, situated right next to Dairy Queen.

Traffic backs up for several intersections as people entering and exiting 522 have to wait their turn get through.

The primary reason is something we’ve reported before: there are just too many drivers on the road for it to handle. That’s a result of the growth in the area.

Besides growth-caused congestion, Jason suggested that the light timing might contribute to the problem.

He’s right. I spoke with people at the city of Woodinville and it turns out some of the lights are under the control of the Washington State Department of Transportation and some are under the control of the city of Bothell.

Woodinville doesn’t even operate the lights there. According to Woodinville, it’s been difficult to get the competing agencies to work together.

A solution:

Woodinville is in active discussions with the state and Bothell to try and get the timing ironed out to help get more cars through. Woodinville also has a project to widen the road under the railroad tracks that leads up to 522. It is trying to get the light timing issued figured out. This was actually discussed at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

So Jason, the city is working on it.