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.
