SPANAWAY – A project to improve pedestrian crossings on State Route 7 in Parkland and Spanaway begins in April.
Starting Tuesday, April 15, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin installing new overhead pedestrian signals along the highway. The new signals will replace the existing signs with flashing lights at 11 crosswalks.
What to expect
Installation work will occur at night. People will see single-lane closures in both directions at each location. Crews will work south to north from 188th Street South in Spanaway to Violet Meadows Street South in Parkland.
Southbound SR 7 work hours:
- 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday
- 6:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday
- 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday
Northbound SR 7 work hours:
- 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday
- 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday
Once the new signals are installed, travelers will see lane closures during the day at each crossing. The daytime lane closures allow crews to activate the new signals. WSDOT will announce dates for daytime work once schedules are finalized.
After all work is complete, travelers will see new traffic lights mounted on a mast arm and pole. When not in use, the lights will display green arrows. When activated by people wanting to cross, the lights will turn red to allow people walking or rolling to cross the highway.
Additional improvements
Other crossing improvements include sidewalk upgrades that will meet current Americans with Disabilities Act standards and changes to median islands at some intersections. The contractor expects to complete the project this fall.
Whenever near work zones please:
- Slow down – drive the posted speeds for worker and traveler safety.
- Be kind – workers are out there helping to keep people safe and improve the roadways.
- Pay attention – both to workers directing travelers and surrounding traffic.
- Stay calm – expect delays, leave early or take alternate routes if possible; no meeting or appointment is worth risking someone’s life.
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So glad to see that new crossing safety systems are being installed!
I have seen that a number of the existing crossing signals have malfunctioned and created very dangerous conditions for both pedestrians and drivers. In some cases, one or more of the flashing lights were not working and drivers couldn’t necessarily see their need to stop. I have witnessed several near misses and repeatedly reported the malfunctioning crossing lights to both Pierce County and Washington State.
Recently, my daughter and I had to detour around a pedestrian fatality by the Paradise Lanes Bowling Alley crossing. Sad to see a covered body laid out on Pacific Ave. Though I don’t know the circumstances of that death, I imagine that a combination of reporting malfunctioning flashing crossing lights and the issue of injuries and deaths has prompted the state’s response to make it safer to cross the busy, five-lane, state highway 7. Hopefully, the new improvements will prevent further deaths.
We all need to take responsibility to make our streets safer:
1) Be more attentive to our surroundings;
2) Report unsafe conditions and dangerous drivers/pedestrians; and,
3) Educate our communities on driver/pedestrian safety.
It won’t solve all the problems but, I believe it will help prevent future deaths. We are grateful to Washington State, Pierce County, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, and others for being responsive to our community concerns and making safety a priority.
Thank you and Blessings to all!