Would a roundabout make this ‘dangerous’ intersection near Mount Rainier safer?
A local fire district is asking the state and county to implement a roundabout at a “dangerous” intersection.
Pierce County Fire District 23, in a Facebook post on Nov. 10, urged the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Pierce County Planning & Public Works to conduct a traffic study at the intersection of Mountain Highway East and Alder Cutoff Road East.
“This intersection remains one of the most dangerous within our jurisdiction, posing significant risks not only to motorists and pedestrians but also to the emergency responders who must operate in these hazardous conditions,” the agency said in a letter posted on Facebook.
In the letter, the agency said there have been about 60 wrecks at the intersection since 2013, and five of those crashes were fatal.
“The area experiences especially high traffic volumes during the summer months and weekends, when many visitors travel to Mount Rainier National Park to recreate at Alder Lake and Alder Lake Park — often leading to additional congestion and unsafe roadside parking,” the post said.
In the letter, the fire district listed several factors as contributing to making the area unsafe:
- Heavy traffic from visitors headed to Mount Rainier National Park
- Alder Lake visitors parking their cars along the shoulders of Mountain Highway East
- A roadway curve that reduces visibility for northbound traffic on Mountain Highway East
- “A downhill grade on Alder Cutoff Road East that shortens braking distances for vehicles turning southbound onto Alder Mashell Road East, especially with traffic backups on Alder Cutoff Road East from the intersection.”
- A 45-degree merge onto northbound Alder Cutoff Road East from northbound Mountain Highway East, which creates “a tighter turn radius” than most other intersections.
- The lack of a dedicated right-turn lane for northbound traffic on Mountain Highway East, which “causes motorists to misinterpret queued vehicles as turning traffic.”
The fire district told the state and county that they believe a roundabout would reduce “both the frequency and severity of crashes.”
“A similar roundabout was recently constructed farther north on Mountain Highway East at Mashell Prairie Road East, near Nisqually State Park, to improve safety and manage increased visitor traffic,” the fire agency wrote in the letter. “While post-construction data from the site are not yet available, the project illustrates WSDOT’s proactive approach to addressing recognized high-risk intersections before serious accidents occur.”
The letter ended with a plea for WSDOT to conduct a traffic study, which is the first step toward installing a roundabout at an intersection. The following people signed the letter:
- Chief Matt Medford
- Claudia Frey, chair of the board of fire commissioners
- Joe Koehler, a member of the board of fire commissioners
- Thomas O’Haver, a member of the board of fire commissioners
Cara Mitchell, spokesperson for WSDOT, told The News Tribune in an email Wednesday that a roundabout is not likely.
“The Legislature funds roundabouts and other types of highway improvements through the Transportation Budget. There is limited funding available. A roundabout would require a more significant investment in analysis, engineering, and construction than what is currently planned and funded,” Mitchell wrote in an email to The News Tribune. “In order (to) ensure these funds are used where they are most needed, WSDOT identifies and prioritizes safety improvements at intersections through analysis of crash history and other factors such as the type and context of the roadway.”
Mitchell said this location “does not qualify for the type of funding the fire district is asking about.”
“However, WSDOT is currently evaluating the installation of additional signs, striping, and rumble strips as potential improvements through our low-cost enhancement (LCE) program,” Mitchell wrote. “These items can raise driver awareness as they approach the intersection.”
