Can someone re-mark the White Lane-Buena Vista Road lines?
| Thursday, Nov 18 2010 04:07 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 18 2010 04:07 PM
Q: I wanted to know if there is anything we can do about the way Caltrans marked the lanes at the intersection going east on White Lane at Buena Vista Road.
The problem I am facing, along with 20-plus cars sometimes waiting behind me, is I am waiting to turn right from White onto Buena Vista and since there is only one lane for turning right and going straight combined, there is a backup of many cars held up by the one car in front that wants to go straight.
At the same time there are two left-turning lanes when one is rarely occupied. It is never busy enough to warrant both left-turning lanes but would be easily resolved if there was a standard one left-turning lane, one straight-going lane and one right-turning lane that would alleviate the traffic backup.
Who is authorized to change what is suggested?
-- Mary Anne Mueller
A: Ryan Starbuck, a city of Bakersfield engineer, answered:
Eastbound White Lane at Buena Vista is striped with two left-turn lanes, even though left-turn volumes are low, since the outside left could not be striped as a through lane. This is because the east side of the intersection is fully developed with the raised median in its ultimate location.
If the eastbound outside left-turn lane was converted to a through lane, vehicles would be lined up into the median nose on the opposing side of the intersection.
Public Works, however, has a project to add more roadway pavement to the south half of White Lane on the west side of the intersection. This will allow for a separate right-turn lane to be striped.
The project is expected to be completed within the next few months.
