In a previous post, I complained about the way Seattle roads are built. Since that time, the website I referred to has removed their map, which makes it harder to see, but today's paper had a comment on the very same intersection. Apparently it is "known" as one of the most confusing intersections in the State!
Dont you love it when an engineer says the problem is not really a problem, it is actually "correct", ie user error? Their advice is also great. Instead of building roads that arent confusing, they advise that you "keep your eyes open". Nice.
There are a lot of things to like about Seattle but one of the things not to like is that in order to get somewhere, you already need to know how to get there. Driving around with directions and a map is an exercise in total frustration. Based on the number of drivers I see around town with a completely befuddled expression on their face, it is also a source of accidents.
So keep your eyes open and, by all means, be aware of the complexity!
I-90 exit is a tangle
Friday, July 7, 2006
Q: I think there is incorrect signage on I-90 going eastbound at Exit 11A. The sign shows two possible exits: 150th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 37th Street and the other exiting onto 156th Avenue Southeast. This is incorrect. The exit puts you on the overpass above I-90, leaving you going southbound on 148th Avenue Southeast, instead of on 156th Avenue Southeast, which is obviously several blocks away.
A: A complex tangle of highway ramps and local streets makes this exit one of Washington's most confusing, according to Melanie Coon, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.
Coon, in an e-mail, said engineers reviewed the area and said the signing is correct but noted that "this is one of our more complex interchanges with many on/off connections, merging areas, etc."
Some causes of the confusion at the interchange:• 150th Avenue Southeast turns into 148th Avenue Southeast just north of the interchange.
• The sign noting the 156th Avenue Southeast exit is mounted on the shoulder and could easily be missed by motorists, especially those driving in the left lane, Coon said.
• Northbound lanes access 148th Avenue Southeast, one of which offers access to 156th Avenue Southeast via Southeast Eastgate Way.
Motorists should keep their eyes open for signs and be aware of the exit's complexity.
