On Monday, Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contractor crews began building a pedestrian hybrid signal on state Route 503 to improve safety for people crossing or riding near Prairie High School.
According to a WSDOT news release, the hybrid signal, also known as a high intensity activated crosswalk or HAWK, will make it safer and easier for people to cross the road to and from Prairie High School and the nearby transit stop.
During construction, travelers on SR 503 near Prairie High School and Northeast 119th Street should plan for single-lane closures overnight from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. Work will take place weekdays only. Crews will also close the sidewalks and shoulders. Pedestrians will use marked detours in the closed lane to continue moving safely along the roadside while the sidewalk is closed. The $1.1 million project should be completed by February.
The project comes in response to an incident in 2023 when a vehicle struck and injured a student crossing SR 503 near the high school. The new signal will be built just south of Northeast 116th Street, east of the high school. It will also include a refuge island where pedestrians can pause safely in the middle of the road before continuing across the highway, which is used by 29,000 vehicles each day, according to the news release.
Unlike traditional traffic lights, the hybrid signal only turns on when a pedestrian presses the button. If no one is crossing, drivers can keep moving. When the yellow lights are flashing, drivers should prepare to stop, according to the release. A solid yellow light indicates drivers should begin stopping. Solid red means drivers must stop and wait for people crossing the road. When the light is flashing red, drivers must stop and only continue when it’s safe for everyone, making sure no pedestrians are crossing.
