Low traffic impacts for Lava Lite

No signals or street revisions necessary

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Lava Lite project is not expected to cause any major traffic impacts.

Ron Cameron presented a traffic study on behalf of Gray & Osborne to the city council Wednesday night.

The study was conducted to find out what the traffic impact would be due to the tourist attraction and if traffic signals are needed.

Four intersections were studied. The intersection of state Route 17 and Main Avenue was the focal point because it is considered the intersection to be most affected by the project, Cameron said. Although it is most affected, it faces little impact.

A traffic signal is not necessary at the intersection, which currently has a blinking signal to warn Main Avenue drivers traffic does not stop on SR 17.

To warrant a traffic signal 600 vehicles per hour for eight hours must move through SR 17 and 150 vehicles must move through the intersecting street, he said.

There aren't nearly enough vehicles passing through nor are there enough vehicles expected to pass through.

During the peak months, July and August, approximately 5,500 vehicles per day travel through the intersection.

Mayor Wayne Hovde said citizens often inquire about why there is not a signal at the intersection.

According to the numbers, there is no need, but there can be exceptions, Cameron said.

"There could be special needs," he said. "You got to kick dirt to find out."

He recalled on incident in a different city where the study statistics said a traffic signal was not needed but after physically going to the intersection, they learned one was needed. Upon inspection they saw a grade school nearby with more than 100 special needs children who walked to school obligated to cross the roadway.

"There may be something there and you can't use the numbers all the time," he said.

The study can be used for application requirements for the city to obtain various grants, Hovde said.