2/16/2012
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Traffic separators used on Broadway ramp to improve driver safety; Karcher’s next
BOISE - Driver confusion and hesitancy can significantly hinder smooth traffic flow. If motorists are not comfortable with driving conditions, they will instinctively stop or slow down. If it doesn’t FEEL safe, it does not matter if it has been designed to BE safe.
Because of this, ITD installed traffic separators on the Broadway ramp in early February to counteract the confusion of drivers believing they must slow down and merge at the beginning of the ramp leading to westbound I-84 from the Broadway Interchange.
The new channelization was applied to the on-ramp in early February to delineate traffic lanes. Although those turning right from Broadway and those turning left from the interchange bridge have their own separate receiving lanes on the ramp and do not need to merge at that point, drivers clearly thought they must, leading to confusion, hesitancy and several near-collisions. Installing the traffic separators and providing another visual cue is a countermeasure by ITD to improve driver safety at this location.
Here's photo 1 and photo 2 of the Broadway traffic separators.
“Motorists clearly perceive that there is a conflict,” said Kevin Sablan, ITD’s southwest Idaho-area Traffic Manager. “The channelization helps traffic flow by distinctly separating the two lanes and having people merge further down the ramp instead of crossing into the other lane at the beginning of the ramp.”
Although the traffic separators cost about $2,500 for the Broadway work, the cost of a crash and resulting traffic back-up at that location would be substantially greater.
Crews also plan to apply the delineators, which are designed to pop back up when they are driven over or pushed down by a vehicle, on Idaho 55 at Karcher later this spring. At the intersection of Karcher Road/Midland Boulevard and Caldwell Boulevard, the traffic separators will be installed to separate the traffic turning right from Caldwell Boulevard onto Midland from the northbound traffic on Karcher going straight through the intersection.
Here's a map of where the traffic separator on Karcher will be located.
“Although right-turning traffic from Caldwell Boulevard onto Midland has a dedicated receiving lane and does not need to merge at that point, right-turners are still stopping to wait for a gap in traffic instead of continuing through,” Sablan explained. “This increases traffic congestion and the potential for rear-end crashes.”
“In fact, some of the right-turners are waiting for a gap to get across to the far left lane to head west on I-84 instead of continuing through."
Moreover, Sablan said, some traffic on Karcher Road trying to get onto eastbound I-84 are currently moving into the right lane immediately after they pass the intersection, which cuts off the right-turning traffic, who have the right-of-way.
The delineators will serve the same function at Karcher as at Broadway - keeping traffic flowing smoothly in a congested, confusing area.