Dear Street Smarts,
Q: I am writing you to see if you could help alert the traffic planners to a very confusing and dangerous situation. Recently, the traffic planners in Capitola added a ‘No turn on red’ sign at Clares, where you make a right onto 41st Avenue. I even read about it in the Sentinel. The problem is that the planners did not finish the job. The signs above the lights still indicate that it is OK to make a right turn onto 41st. The arrows on the street still say the same thing. Since this turn only lane is no longer for turning, proper signage is necessary. I believe this confusion is the reason drivers are still making the right turn onto 41st from Clares. I am getting some dirty looks from drivers going straight through Clares in the right lane because they think I should be turning.
Mary Anne Gabay, Aptos
A: The signage is correct, said Steve Jesberg, public works director. The new signs posted at the intersection tell drivers that they can still make the right turn, just not when the light is red.
“Right turns are permitted when the light is green,” he said.
The changes occurred last summer in an attempt to ease traffic congestion on 41st. Both public works and the police department continue to monitor the intersection.
Caltrans helps travelers avoid road work
Caltrans is now helping road warriors better plan their tips by making it easier to search for planned road work.
The state transportation agency upgraded its website so that it provides real-time route information that includes planned lane closures statewide.
“Thanks to this upgrade, motorists can plan to avoid scheduled lane closures on statewide routes before they even get on the road,” said Malcolm Dougherty, agency director. “This information will allow travelers to adjust their trip plan so they can get where they’re going more quickly.”
Search for planned closures by region, county or route numbers, as well as by date, time and type of closure at www.lcswebreports.dot.ca.gov/lcswebreports/.
Travelers also can stay abreast of road information using the Caltrans QuickMap at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.
