As part of the West Fir Street rehabilitation project, a new traffic signal is being installed at the intersection of West Fir Street and 5th Avenue to enhance east-west mobility for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, and to provide an alternate route to Washington Street. The traffic signal is slated to become fully operational June 16 and is the final improvement to be installed as part of the West Fir Street project. There will be a change in traffic patterns, so we ask that the public pay attention. Current traffic volumes on 5th Avenue and Fir Street are forecasted to grow. The new traffic signal will ensure there are opportunities for vehicles to enter onto and exit from 5th Avenue and Fir Street efficiently now and into the future.
The signal will also include features such as accessible pushbutton signals (APS) and countdown pedestrian signal heads that help improve the safety and experience of pedestrians and cyclists in general and users with disabilities in particular.
APS pushbuttons offer the following features:
- Vibrating button during Walk signal.
- LED light, sound and tactile bounce to confirm the pushbutton has registered.
- Ambient self-adjustable multiple sound options during Walk signal, including customized voice message.
Countdown pedestrian signal heads offer the following benefits:
- Walking man flashing signal to indicate it is safe to enter crosswalk.
- Countdown to indicate remaining time available to cross the intersection. This helps pedestrians make informed decisions about whether cross or wait for the next signal
- A stop hand flashing signal alongside the countdown timer when the time remaining reaches the level considered inadequate for the average pedestrian to traverse the crosswalk.
The work will be performed by Interwest Construction and Olympic Electric.
For more information, please contact Sequim’s Department of Public Works at (360) 683-4908.