Agenda - Council - 11/10/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

CASE #4 CONSIDER HIGHWAY 10 MEDIAN OPTIONS AT LICENSE BUREAU ACCESS By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer Background: Concern has been raised over the ntunber and severity of the accidents on Highway 10 at the median opening opposite the County Licensing Bureau on the north side of the highway. Lana Equipment is also located at this median on the south side of the highway. Attached to this case is a summary of the accidents which have occurred at this location since 2003 along with the individual accident reports. Over this period there have been ten reportable accidents (causing personal injury or property damage greater than $1,000). This includes one fatality. In addition there have been six accident reports involving minor damage. Three fourths of the accidents involved the median opening in some way. The remaining accidents involved leaving the roadway along 10 or accidents occurring at the driveway entrances. An aerial view of this median opening is attached-to this case. At the present time all turning movements are ,permitted at his location except for u turns from eastbound to west bound 10. However westbound to eastbound a turns are permitted. Increasing roadway safety often corresponds with limiting driver options, At intersections this translates into eliminating potential conflicts by decreasing the turning movement available to the motorist, Consequently this would reduce access to commercial properties which is highly desired by those establishments, Below are several alternatives which could be considered to increase the safety of this intersection. "These alternatives are listed in order of greatest to least impact on adjacent businesses. Closure of the median — This would be the greatest improvement in safety at this location. If in place over the accident period 12 of the 18 accidents would have been prevented. It also has the greatest access impact on access to the businesses on both sides of the highway at this location. 2, Install a pork chop island at the entrance into the Licensing Bureau — Accidents 1, 3, 6, 13, 15, and 16 involved vehicle access to the licensing Bureau drive entrance. The pork chop would allow only right in/ right out turning .movements from the Licensing Bureau as well as prevent left turning movements from eastbound Highway 10 into this drive. 3. Restrict eastbound to west bound a turns — although this would eliminate a potential conflict no accidents have been attributed to this movement, 4. Reduce the width of the median opening and reorient its location -- The length of this median opening at this location is approximately 70 feet in length compared to 45 feet at Tungsten Street; 55 feet at Feldspar Street; 45 feet at Traprock Street; and 45 feet at Bowers Drive. The narrower median opening restricts turning traffic to more rigidly -116-