Over the past several months, I have been working with the State Department of Highways regarding the intersection of Westport Road and Washburn Avenue.

This intersection was realigned during the first phase of the Westport Road widening project. Since that time, I have received numerous complaints about the intersection and there have been many accidents there as well.

After pushing the Department of Highways to review the safety of this intersection, they have agreed to perform some much needed changes.

I am grateful to the Department of Highways for listening to the concerns of residents who travel this area on a daily basis and making these traffic safety corrections.

Work in this area began last week and should be completed in the next few weeks, weather permitting. Here are the changes being made to this intersection:

-- The median on the west side of the intersection has been shortened by 10 feet.

-- The turn lane westbound at Washburn will be shifted to the south. The new turn lane will line up with the eastbound turn lane on the opposite side of the intersection.

-- Several areas of pavement will be milled and replaced to repair 'bad' pavement or rough pavement areas. These include areas around intersections at Herr Lane and Washburn.

-- The markings on the right turn lane onto Washburn from westbound Westport will be lengthened, the white edgeline (which shows it is a turn lane) will be extended, and additional arrows and 'ONLY' symbols will be added further east. A ''Right Lane Must Turn Right'' sign will be added closer to Fenley Avenue.

--Barrels will be placed at the far end of the 'closed lane' to help people see that the lane ends.


By Metro Council Ken Fleming