Busy street may be reduced to 3 lanes
Busy street may be reduced to 3 lanes
| The Marquette Planning Commission is considering whether Washington Street from Lincoln Avenue to Seventh Street should be reduced from four lanes to three lanes when it is reconstructed next summer. (Journal photo by Scott Swanson) |
By SCOTT SWANSON Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — A research firm has recommended that a busy section of Washington Street can be reduced from four lanes to three lanes without causing significantly increased delays.
Some members of the Marquette Planning Commission, however, are not yet convinced.
The planning commission heard a traffic modeling report from Toledo-based SSOE Inc. Architects and Engineers at its meeting Tuesday.
The commission is currently weighing whether the section of Washington Street between Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street should be reduced from four lanes to three lanes, with one lane designated as a left-turn lane.
The commission took no vote on the issue.
The change would be part of the scheduled reconstruction of Washington Street from about 375 feet west of Garfield Avenue to Fifth Street next summer.
While the reduction in lanes would increase delay times slightly, the corridor would still function at a level of service in compliance with Michigan standards, according to engineer Saroja Devarkonda.
The reduction should be done gradually and with proper signage, she said.
“When we are designing this transition from the existing four to three lanes, it should not abruptly start at the Lincoln and Washington intersection,” she said.
While planning commission member Glenn Van Neste said the reduction in lanes would create a safer road, he was concerned that vehicles turning right into businesses would create significant back-ups — a potential problem not adequately addressed by the study, he said.
“It seems to me that’s a great part of what this study should be about,” Van Neste said.
Commissioner Bruce Ventura noted that during the road’s peak usage times, all lanes are typically full — meaning that drivers wouldn’t be able to pass a vehicle turning right, even with four lanes.
“We’re not being asked to design an interstate here,” he said. “This is a city street where drivers should expect to slow down occasionally. I think we’re beating a dead horse with that at this point.”
Responded Van Neste: “If both lanes are full, you don’t think we need four lanes?”
Washington Street is currently about 40 feet wide. If the commission decides to keep all four lanes, the road would be widened to 49 feet during reconstruction. If it is converted to three lanes, Washington would be reduced to 39 feet.
The three-lane option would allow for more snow storage along the road during the winter, Commissioner Bob O’Neill said.
“With four lanes, we’re going to have a bigger problem with snow,” he said.
The entire reconstruction will cost $5 million, with the city receiving $2.5 million from the Michigan Department of Transportation as part of the jurisdictional exchange of Washington and Division streets for McClellan Avenue south of the bypass.
From Lincoln Avenue west to near Garfield, the turn lane will be eliminated, reducing the road to four lanes. From Seventh Street to Fifth Street, the road will remain mostly as is, with two driving lanes and two lanes of parking.
Previous page: Learning the links
Next page: Snapshots from Hell