WASHINGTON -- Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who've ever been frustrated by the confusing and harrowing intersection at Washington, Wilson and Clarendon boulevards in Arlington County's Clarendon neighborhood can breathe a sigh of relief. The county has released preliminary plans to improve safety at the junction, sometimes called Clarendon Circle.
The plans come on the heels of a study released Jan. 24 that suggested several redesigns, which were whittled down to single plan detailed here.
A section of Arlington County government's website details the project's goals:
- Normalize the intersection geometry
- Improved pedestrian and bicycle safety and access
- Maintain or improve traffic flow, including changes to surrounding intersections
- Reduce pavement area/intersection size
- Integrate "Green Street" elements into the project
- Improve traffic control (signals, signing, markings) and lighting
- Integrate streetscape and place making elements into the project
ARLNow reports that the first round of public forums addressing the improvements will be scheduled soon and will continue into the spring. A final plan and ground breaking are expected sometime in 2014.
People who traverse the intersection are encouraged to give their feedback through this online survey.
Clarendon Circle has long been a headache for those passing through. Earlier this month, a car accident knocked out a traffic light that remained dark through the morning rush hour.