Traffic Signal Safety Enhancements: E. Broad Street at I-71
UPDATE: An unexpected window of clear weather allowed crews to perform this work on Wednesday, April 5.
City
of Columbus crews will change the traffic signal at the intersection of E.
Broad Street and I-71 the week of April 10, weather permitting. The updated
signal will improve pedestrian safety.
Crews will change the signal
operation as seen from westbound E. Broad Street. Under the current
configuration, only a green right-turn arrow is displayed for westbound drivers
in the right-turn-only lane. The new configuration will allow a flashing yellow
right-turn arrow to be illuminated to remind drivers to yield to pedestrians
crossing at the crosswalk that goes across the ramp to I-71.
As a default, the signal will display a
flashing yellow right-turn arrow. According to Ohio Code this means:
Vehicular traffic,
on an approach to an intersection facing a flashing yellow arrow signal
indication, is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection only to make the
movement indicated by such arrow... Such vehicular traffic... shall yield the
right-of-way to ...pedestrians lawfully
within an associated crosswalk.
The continuous right turn with
caution will still be allowed, but engineers want to add this visual cue
for motorists to watch carefully for pedestrians.
“The
new flashing yellow light will remind motorists to be alert for pedestrians
before they turn right onto I-71,” said Traffic Signal Engineer Jodi Stefanik.
For a diagram with a before and after comparison see: http://bit.ly/ebroad71