Congested Intersection Gets Two Turn Signals Lights Protect Turn Off Mullan Onto Northwest Boulevard

It’s about blinking time, some drivers might say.

Relief has arrived for motorists and pedestrians tired of long waits at the broad intersection where Northwest Boulevard, Government Way and Mullan Avenue converge.

New traffic signals installed Tuesday will speed things up by allowing protected left-hand turns off Mullan onto Northwest Boulevard at busy times - say, in the afternoon when students are streaming away from North Idaho College.

Drivers could hear nearly an entire pop song on the radio while waiting for their chance to move.

“During the peak hour, it can take about two minutes and 10 seconds to cycle all the way around,” state traffic engineer John Perfect said Tuesday. That wait should drop to 80 seconds, he said - or perhaps 90 seconds, if someone on foot pushes the “walk” button and interrupts the signal cycle.

The Idaho Transportation Department is paying for two $700 “doghouse” signals, so-called because of their shape. Each has a red stop light on top.

A green arrow, allowing a protected turn, lights when about five cars are stacked up in the turn lane. If only the green ball is lit, drivers have to yield to oncoming traffic.

Drivers turning off Government Way onto Northwest Boulevard don’t have the option of a protected turn.

The city is spending $500 on each of two backlit signs. Those will remind drivers to yield when only a green ball is lit.

Drivers should be careful while they’re getting used to the new signals, Perfect said. Confusion could cause accidents if people aren’t aware that they need a green arrow to make a protected turn.

A city traffic count taken during the peak, end-of-workday hour found 247 vehicles making a left turn off Mullan. Another 225 made a right turn toward downtown, or went straight onto Government Way.

During that same hour, only 54 vehicles turned left off Government Way onto Northwest Boulevard; 199 went straight or turned right.