Drivers along State Route 27 from the town of Rockford to Trent Avenue in the City of Spokane Valley will see more law enforcement patrols, some engineering improvements, and a public information/education campaign this summer as part of the SR 27 Traffic Safety Project. The project is a joint venture of the WSDOT, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and representatives from engineering, enforcement and education agencies, as well as local citizens.
The project’s goal is to reduce the number of fatalities, serious injuries and collisions on the roadway. 486 collisions occurred on this section of SR 27 from February ’04 through January ’07. Ten involved fatal or disabling injuries.
The Washington State Patrol, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Spokane Valley Police Department will increase patrols in this area, focusing on traffic light runners, following too close, speeding, and right-of-way violations. There will also be increased DUI patrols.
Engineering activities include signal retiming, modifying some signage on the roadway, removing vegetation that restricts sight distance, etc.
If you drive this stretch on a regular basis, let us know, do you think this effort will help?