Our signals, capital projects, and bike program teams have worked to design new safety enhancements at the S Columbian Way / Beacon Ave S intersection. These enhancements are the direct result of the feedback we have heard from commuters over the past couple of months about safety for people that ride bikes and clarity for drivers. We have also heard from neighbors about cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets.
If you are commuting through the area, respect your neighbors’ sense of safety and access and do not use side streets to avoid the intersection.
As for the work. We will be working the weekend of December 7 to make the safety enhancements at the intersection of S Columbian Way and Beacon Ave S. The intersection will remain open to traffic; however, there will be temporary lane closures and shifts for worker and commuter safety. This work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled to another weekend.
Here’s what you can expect during construction:
S C H E D U L E
The weekend of December 7 we will be making updates to the intersection of S Columbian Way and Beacon Ave S. This work is scheduled for a weekend to minimize traffic impacts.
I M P A C T S
- Typical work hours are from 7 AM — 7 PM
- Flaggers on site to help guide vehicles around the work area
- Flaggers on site to help guide vehicles around the work area
- Work to happen on the weekend to minimize traffic impacts
- Work could take additional weekends to complete
- On-street parking and lane restrictions near work locations
- Temporary vehicle, bike, and pedestrian detours
- Noise, dust, concrete and paint odors, and vibration
- Access to businesses driveways and driveways to homes will remain open
- Work is weather dependent, so timing of work may change if needed
I M P R O V E M E N T S
We are making these improvements to provide better clarity to drivers in the intersection and increase the safety and comfort of people on bikes up to and through the intersection. Improvements include:
- New bike protection leading up to the intersection
- New bike signals at the intersection
- New road markings and paint on the ground to better distinguish travel lanes
- Restricting left turns in the intersection to keep east/west traffic flowing and protecting people that ride bikes and drive cars from collisions
Columbia/Beacon Intersection Redesign
With the new left turn restrictions for drivers looking to go northbound and southbound, drivers now will need to turn right, then make 2 left turns to get to their respective northbound or southbound destinations. These are called Michigan Left Turns. Suggested turn around streets include S Alaska St and S Ferdinand St. We understand this will be a change for some drivers; however, it will improve the traffic flow in the intersection and protect cars and people that ride bikes from collisions.