By D'Val Westphal
Of the Journal
ROAD WARRIOR: WHAT'S UP WITH THE TURN SIGNAL AT EAGLE RANCH AND COORS? Let's start with the intersection's southbound side: M. Luna asks in an e-mail, "why did a turn signal get placed at Coors Boulevard and Eagle Ranch Road NW? In the evening hours the signal now causes southbound traffic to back up for quite a distance. It takes a few cycles to now make a left turn from Coors onto Eagle Ranch."
As for the northbound side, Dave Venus e-mails that "on November 23, I noticed that the left turn from northbound Coors to Eagle Ranch is now a double left turn. I also noticed that the left-turn signal has changed.
"Previously, one could turn left on a green arrow that resolved to a green light, and you could turn if there was a break in oncoming southbound traffic. Now there is an arrow signal that stays red even though the northbound traffic continues through a green light and there may be an opportunity to turn left, especially in light traffic. Why the arrow light? Is this a left-on-green-arrow-only intersection now? If so, where's the sign? It doesn't make sense if there is no southbound traffic. Can we get our green light back and nix the arrow?
"P.S. It's a great idea to have a double left turn. Before, traffic would back up during rush hour in the left lane, not a safe situation."
And it's all about safety, M. and Dave.
Mark Motsko, public information officer with the city's Department of Municipal Development, got the lowdown from city traffic engineer Kevin Broderick. He says "there have recently been modifications to the traffic signals at Coors and Eagle Ranch and at Coors Bypass and Eagle Ranch. Modifications at both locations were in anticipation of the increased traffic due to the construction of the new Costco at Coors Bypass and Eagle Ranch.
"In order to accommodate the increased volume of left-turning traffic, the left turn was modified to be a double left-turn movement. While the double left-turn movement essentially doubles the amount of traffic that can turn during the same time, due to limited driver sight lines with the double left, the movement was changed to left-on-green-arrow-only."
As for the southbound backups M. noted, Broderick says "the vehicle detectors at the intersection may have been damaged during the construction. If that's the case, the signal would not be operating as efficiently as desired. Traffic Engineering will review the signal timings at the intersections and make modifications as needed."
AND CAN'T WE GET ONE AT UNSER/BANDELIER? M.'s not done.
"Why can't a turn signal be installed at Unser and Bandelier NW? Northbound turning into the Paradise Skies subdivision can be dangerous as you do not have a clear view of southbound traffic on Unser."
Broderick says "left-turn arrows are installed at signalized intersections when they are warranted due to volumes of turning traffic or excessive delays to turning traffic. As left-turn arrows are exclusive movements that prevent through traffic from entering the intersection, they can have an adverse impact to traffic flow.
"Traffic Engineering will review the delays and accident history at the intersection of Unser and Bandelier to determine if a left-turn arrow is warranted."
30TH CLOSED THROUGH JANUARY: Up in Rio Rancho, Leonard Rivera, Traffic Operations manager for the Department of Public Works/Engineering, says the section of 30th between 13th and 21st avenues will be closed through Jan. 21 "due to roadway construction and paving. This work is part of the Rock Ridge subdivision off-site infrastructure construction."
Assistant editorial page editor D'Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for West Siders on Tuesdays and the rest of the Metro area on Saturdays. Reach her at 823-3858 (phone), 823-3994 (fax), road@abqjournal.com (e-mail) or P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Check out previous columns at abqjournal.com/traffic.
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