VANCOUVER, Wash. - After nearly 400 crashes in five years at two intersections on State Route 500, the Washington Department of Transportation is planning to make changes.
WSDOT says a crash happens about once every four days.
The problem spots are the intersections at Northeast 42nd and Northeast 54th avenues. Those are the last two intersections with traffic lights.
One woman who drives the route daily said she constantly drives through debris and worries about getting rear-ended.
“I always check my six because you basically have to come from 55 to zero in not too long of a distance, so that is kind of something that is a little bit worrisome to me,” Rebecca Kramer explained.
WSDOT is proposing three different plans to improve safety at both intersections, but the department wants your input. Since opening the discussion last week, hundreds of people have contributed feedback. Each option would impact traffic and safety differently.
"They would change how folks can get to and from the roadway in the local area and that is different than maybe people have the expectation of what they can do right now, so we want to make sure we talk with folks about the effects,” said WSDOT Region Planning Director Carley Francis.
The safety improvements would not only impact commuters, but homes and businesses in the area as well. Vancouver Public Schools said one option would increase bus driver costs because it would change their routes. People who live nearby are also concerned changes could push traffic into their neighborhoods.
WSDOT is hosting an online forum through May 25 if you want to weigh in on the issue. The department will not make a final decision until the forum closes.
