Close calls raise safety concerns for 520 bridge exit
Jan 6, 2016, 11:24 PM | Updated: May 7, 2016, 11:24 pm
Changes to an exit on the 520 bridge is causing a bit of confusion.
On Wednesday morning there were multiple near misses as drivers blew through the new four-way stop at the new Lake Washington Boulevard exit from westbound State Route 520.
Most of the drivers that missed the stop sign were heading eastbound on Lake Washington Boulevard.
Tell us to investigate a chokepoint
KIRO Radio listener Greg Curtiss said he was nearly hit by a van that didn’t stop.
Judy Ogliore lives next to the intersection. She couldn’t believe all the near misses she witnessed.
“We went down this morning and watched it, and we thought that there will be two or three bad accidents before people get the picture that it’s a four-way stop,” Ogliore said.
Brian Dobbins is the construction manager for the 520 project. He was a little surprised by the drivers missing the stop signs.
“They never had one before but they are used to the construction activity. We’ve had flaggers out here,” Dobbins said. “What caught me off guard is that they haven’t seen the advance signing that says ‘signal revision ahead.’ They’re big 4-foot by 4-foot, florescent orange signs, along with a brand new stop sign.”
But he saw enough confusion to make some changes to make this new four-way stop a little safer.
“We’re going to take the parking in front of the stop sign, we are going to add another 30 feet of no parking to have that stop sign stand by itself,” Dobbins said. “We’re going to add more signs higher up on posts that say ‘signal revision ahead.'”
Losing that parking will likely be a sore issue for people living along Lake Washington Boulevard.
Dobbins says he will do whatever he can to make this new intersection safe.
“It’s not a huge parking area, but because safety is my priority, I have to do that to increase visibility of the stop sign,” Dobbins said. “I need everybody who comes up to the stop sign to stop.”
Ogliore hopes this isn’t the only change WSDOT makes to improve the situation.
WSDOT will ask for Seattle police enforcement at the intersection if drivers don’t get the message soon.
