New traffic lights put up on busy Pierce County corridor. Will safety improve?
The Washington State Department of Transportation finished installing button-activated traffic lights at 11 intersections along Washington State Route 7/Pacific Avenue South in Parkland and Spanaway, according to a news release Thursday. The new signals are designed to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety along the busy Pierce County corridor.
The project replaced existing rapid flashing beacons with overhead pedestrian signals that are mounted on a mast arm and pole, according to WSDOT. When not in use, the lights show green arrows. When activated, the lights will turn red to stop vehicle traffic and allow pedestrians or cyclists to cross safely.
You might notice changes to the sidewalks and median islands along those intersections and left turns from any direction might no longer be accessible. At Violet Meadows Street South, travelers going southbound can still turn left, according to WSDOT.
The improvements were part of a $8.8 million project funded by a Pedestrian and Bicyclist program grant supported by the state and in alignment with the Pierce County Zero Action Plan that was proposed by Executive Ryan Mello and adopted by the Pierce County Council earlier this year. The Vision Zero Action Plan seeks to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on county roads by 2035.
New pedestrian signals were put up at:
- SR 7/Violet Meadows Street South
- SR 7/118th Street South
- SR 7/124th Street South
- SR 7/134th Street South
- SR 7/143rd Street South
- SR 7/155th Street South
- SR 7/162nd Street South
- SR 7/173rd Street South
- SR 7/180th Street South
- SR 7/184th Street South
- SR 7/188th Street South
