Yellow Flashing Left-Turn Arrows on US 160/US 550 Through Durango What do they mean?  

 

Durango, CO: Motorists on US 160/550 through Durango are becoming accustomed to the yellow left-turn arrows through town. The Colorado Department of Transportation’s safety-improvement project to upgrade 18 signals through town was completed in December. In early January, CDOT will have independent traffic engineering consultant conduct a signal timing “optimization run” to test and improve the efficiency of the system in operation. Any necessary adjustments will be made at that time to further improve signal coordination and traffic flow.  

WHAT THE SIGNAL INDICATIONS MEAN Between SH 172 and Animas View Drive (excluding the intersections at SH 3 and at 14^th Street) here is a “how to” for navigating the new system: GREEN ARROW:   A green left-turn arrow gives the motorist aprotected turn movement, meaning there will be no oncoming traffic during a left turn). FLASHING YELLOW ARROW:  A yellow flashing yellow ispermissive, meaning the motorist can turn left when there is a safe break in traffic. SOLID YELLOW ARROW:  A solid yellow arrow means the traffic signal is about to turn red, and there is little time left….to turn left! SOLID RED ARROW:  Red means stop! A motorist is not allowed to turn left on a solid red arrow at any time.  

MOTORISTS, TAKE NOTE:  You will not see the same left-arrow sequencing among all the intersections; this is because each intersection has different traffic volumes, different turning movements, and different accident histories. Also, left-arrow sequencing will be different depending upon the time of day and time of year, as peak travel hours will vary from summer to winter. (Currently “peak” travel hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; these hours will likely change during the summer high-tourist season.) For a full signal sequence breakdown, here is what motorists now see: 

DAYTIME:         YELLOW FLASHING/GREEN PROTECTEDNIGHTTIME:       YELLOW FLASHING ONLY9^th Street, 17^th Street, 22^nd Street, 25^th Street, 27^th Street, 32^nd Street (there are now two left-hand turn lanes for westbound 32^nd Street) and Animas View Drive. Arrows will also indicate red and green – see below for details. 

DAYTIME:         YELLOW FLASHING/GREEN PROTECTEDNIGHTTIME:       YELLOW FLASHING/GREEN PROTECTED College Drive, Santa Rita Drive, Frontage at CR 210 and SH 172 DAYTIME:         YELLOW FLASHING/GREEN PROTECTED PEAK

HOURS ONLY NIGHTTIME:       YELLOW FLASHING ONLYUS 160/US 550 Junction (at Double Tree), and River Road (at Home Depot)  DAYTIME:         GREEN PROTECTED ALL DAYNIGHTTIME:       YELLOW FLASHING/GREEN PROTECTED
Sawyer Drive, Dominguez Drive, Farmington Hill (at US 160/550 junction) and Three Springs Blvd. NO SIGNAL

CHANGES:  14^th Street intersection (at Burger King) and SH 3: no changes were made; these left-turn movements are protected at all times. IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW:  In addition to adding left-turn signals for safety and mobility through town, the project has also improved traffic flow through the following measures:  altering the sequence of left turns at some major intersections, resulting in less wait time for queuing vehicles; eliminating a turn cycle at Dominguez Drive (WalMart) by enabling opposing  traffic to make left-turns at the same time; removing the north-side pedestrian crossing at College Drive; enabling two left-turn movements from 32^nd Street onto southbound Main Avenue (signs to indicate this new movement are being manufactured). If the public has comments or questions about a particular intersection or signal along the US 160/550 corridor, they may call CDOT at (970) 385-8360.  Visit www.cotrip.org or call 511 from anywhere in the state. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!