KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA | Avoid intersection of 3rd Ave. & Washington Ave. Sunday

Avoid intersection of 3rd Ave. & Washington Ave. Sunday

YAKIMA--The following notice is a press release sent to KNDO by Randy Beehler, Community Relations Manager for the City of Yakima.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area around 3rd Avenue and Washington Avenue this Sunday (March 7th) because of work that will be done on the traffic signal box there.

City Streets and Traffic Division crews will be replacing a signal box, also known as a controller cabinet, at the intersection of 3rd and Washington.  The work will begin about 7:30 am and should take about 5 or 6 hours to complete.

"The new cabinet will improve traffic flow at the intersection by allowing the opposing left turns to run separately," said Traffic Operations Supervisor Rick Dwyer.  "The end result will be a decrease in the overall delay at that signal."

A controller cabinet contains various electronic components that regulate the phasing of traffic signals.  Controller cabinets need to be updated and/or replaced periodically to ensure that they operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. The average life span of controller components is about 10 years, although the City tends to extend that through its maintenance efforts.

While the controller cabinet replacement work is underway this Sunday, the traffic signal at the 3rd and Washington intersection will not be operating.  During that time, portable stop signs will be used to manage traffic flow.

The total cost of the controller cabinet replacement project is about $20,000, which is being paid for from the City's Arterial Street Fund.