Published July 15 2013
Tired of waiting for the light to change at the intersection of 150th Avenue Southeast and Southeast Newport Way? The city is doing something about that.
The city will install adaptive signals, which respond to traffic conditions in real time and coordinate with nearby intersections, and add a short, northbound left-turn lane to the intersection. Critical maintenance needs will also be addressed with the project.
Construction will begin July 22 and continue through the middle of September. Construction hours will be 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
After Eastgate's annexation into Bellevue, the Transportation Department immediately began studying ways to improve efficiency at this key intersection in the neighborhood. Because of the "split phase" signal operating system, one direction of traffic was waiting at all times, resulting in extra traffic delays and backups.
During construction, flaggers will help direct traffic through this busy intersection daily, and if necessary, police officers will be added during peak commute hours. The Metro stops southeast of the intersection, serving lines 246 and 823, might be temporarily shifted to accommodate for construction, but will still be accessible.
Please be alert when you enter the construction zone, especially if you are a bicyclist or a pedestrian. For your safety, please obey the construction flaggers and police officers as you travel through the intersection.
To stay informed about this project and other current construction projects, please refer to Traffic Advisories or follow the Transportation Department on Twitter: @BvueTrans.