I regularly receive reader concerns over the inadequacy of certain Spokane freeway interchanges.  Indeed, some of the entrance and exit ramps to and from Interstate 90 here lack safe and efficient flow.

Those design shortcomings may be partially blamed on delays and objections taking place decades ago when the freeway was built.  Also, back then, traffic volume was not nearly as great as it is today, so the designs were not nearly as problematic.  Now, traffic engineers have plenty of expertise to come up with proper interchange redesigns, but the high costs of constructing them are prohibitive within the state budget.

For example, readers and I have made much ado of the need to be especially vigilant at the infamous on-ramp from U.S. 195 northbound to I-90 eastbound.  Engineers have solutions to the short, curved chute there, but Olympia doesn’t have a required 70 million extra dollars to give from the general fund to implement them.

Short of an ideal re-do, however, the Department of Transportation has erected signage suggesting that eastbound I-90 traffic occupy the two left-most lanes in the vicinity of the on-ramp.  Additionally, there is a sign containing flashing lights that warns eastbound I-90 drivers when vehicles from U.S. 195 have entered the ramp.

Another region contains the freeway entrance routes in the neighborhood of 4th Avenue and Walnut/Maple.  It has less inherent danger than the 195/90 debacle due to lower speed, but the lack of speed there is replaced with congestion and conflict.

If a driver wishes to enter westbound I-90 after travelling south on Walnut, he or she must turn left on 4th Avenue, turn left on Maple, then move quickly to the right across three lanes of traffic within a couple of car lengths to access the westbound on-ramp.

Besides that, until recently, there was competition with drivers going east on 4th Avenue turning right, crossing three lanes on Maple to the left to effect an eastbound I-90 entrance.

Notice that I wrote, “until recently,” because thankfully traffic engineers have now placed a left turn arrow that gives those seeking westbound I-90 a chance to get to the ramp while traffic across from them on 4th is held at a red light.

Held there, that is, if eastbound 4th Avenue drivers observe and comply with the “NO TURN ON RED” sign facing them while stopped.  Unfortunately, as I approached behind four vehicles there last week, all four drivers ignored the sign and made right turns upon a red light indication.  All of those drivers came into conflict with opposing vehicles proceeding left and across Maple upon a green arrow indication.

The traffic control change there is relatively recent, so I hope that driver familiarity will increase as time goes on.  Though it’s still a congested and somewhat confusing interchange, the simple modification of signals there is a welcome improvement that will be fairly effective once drivers begin to comply with the signage.

That eventuality may be a mere wish, however, as I observe drivers commonly ignoring “NO TURN ON RED” signage that has been in place for years at 29th Avenue and Perry on the south hill.

Nevertheless, I am glad to see that attempts are being made to improve the efficiency and safety of certain interchanges even though the multiple millions of dollars required for total reconfiguration are not currently available.

Readers may contact Bill Love via email at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.

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