Bellingham crews activate signal at Railroad Avenue, Chestnut Street

JARED PABEN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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BELLINGHAM - City crews turned on a new traffic signal at East Chestnut Street and Railroad Avenue on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The new signal replaces stops signs along Railroad there, and it's expected to make the intersection safer for pedestrians and drivers. During the Saturday Farmers Market, the intersection gets clogged with pedestrians crossing and vehicles trying to get through.

It will be timed to allow a vehicle driving up Chestnut to hit all green lights, similar to along Holly Street coming into downtown.

PHILIP A. DWYER | THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

There have been about eight crashes at the intersection in the past three years (that includes three so far in 2009). One in May of this year involved a bicyclist, but the rider wasn't hurt badly.

Two of the signal poles came from the intersection of Champion and Commercial streets (near the Mount Baker Theatre), which now has stop signs. The third signal was purchased used.

Signs will warn drivers and pedestrians of the change as they approach the intersection from all directions, according to Public Works.