East Lake Street commuters and Longfellow residents that don’t keep up with their local news or the Lake Street Reconstruction and Streetscaping site got a really rude awakening on their evening commute today if they travel westbound across the Lake Street bridge into Minneapolis. Starting at East Lake Street and West River Parkway it is now one lane each way and there are no left turns for over ten blocks.
Did it stop some people from making left turns?
Of course not.
As a result of people wanting to make left turns, traffic was backed up all the way back into Saint Paul as we waited for people to make them, most of which were onto West River Parkway southbound. The frustrating part was that if you wanted to go southbound on River Parkway, you can easily make two right turns and go under the bridge instead of making one left turn that holds up everyone else. Things would be much more smooth if there was a sign that said “Right Turn for West River Parkway.�?
After River Parkway, traffic was fairly clear but I still got held up by people wanting to make left turns on side streets even though there is this sign that sits next to you on every intersection:
But you know what? When I found an opening, there wasn’t anyone behind me and I knew I wouldn’t negatively affect any other traffic, I snuck a left turn at 40th Ave S.
I wonder how they will start enforcing these no left turns; this could end up being a real mess. I’m glad I wasn’t in a rush and was relaxed about it.
Comments 10
If the East segment was any indication it will not take people too long to figure it out. I have always tried to avoid Lake at rush hour, but at other time traffic moved pretty well. One just has to take ones chances 3-right vs 1-left and a ticket.
Cheers;
Posted 29 Mar 2007 at 18:58 ¶you have hereby increased the standard by which all other pictures heretofore will be judged on this site henceforth.
and I have lowered the bar for grammer
Posted 29 Mar 2007 at 19:01 ¶Yeah, the new pictures look great. The construction, however, sucks.
Posted 29 Mar 2007 at 19:17 ¶Lake is my favorite street in the Twin Cities. Construction just adds to the fun.
We actually ran into the construction tonight as well, coming off the river road on the Minneapolis side, then heading east. No biggie.
I’d be a lot more concerned about someone taking tons of photos while driving compared to making an illegal left turn.
Posted 29 Mar 2007 at 23:00 ¶You law breaker!
The Signature Cafe capitalize on this by running ads that say “cross Franklin during construction and stop in for some pot roast.”
Posted 30 Mar 2007 at 09:05 ¶Does anyone know if LCC or other “official” has contacted city about posting “Right Turn to W. River Parkway” and/or re-calibrating the signals to maximize traffic flow through the 10-block bottleneck, esp. at the Bridge/Parkway point? I don’t want to be one more resident inundating the city with such a request.
Posted 30 Mar 2007 at 10:53 ¶C Hilmoe-
Not to my knowledge. I’m surprised they haven’t thought of it. Perhaps they have and there’s a reason why it’s not there. I’m not sure though. Fire away, as far as I’m concerned.
-Aaron
Posted 30 Mar 2007 at 11:18 ¶Just looking at those photos stresses me out. They are very nice photos though.
Posted 31 Mar 2007 at 13:10 ¶Thanks for the comic relief, Dan! LOL
# Dan O’Leary Says:
March 29th, 2007 at 19:01
you have hereby increased the standard by which all other pictures heretofore will be judged on this site henceforth.
and I have lowered the bar for grammer
Posted 19 Apr 2007 at 09:26 ¶If you lived on the right side of Lake Street, you would have that turning problem. We can turn pretty much whenever we want.
Posted 20 Apr 2007 at 15:44 ¶Post a Comment