After several months of community meetings and construction, Santa Maria has completed modifications to the traffic median on McCoy Lane.
The changes—including a second left turn lane on McCoy turning onto northbound Broadway—are designed to allow better access into and out of the Kohl’s Shopping Center, city officials said in a recent press release.
Other modifications include the southbound U-turn at Broadway and Santa Maria Way and revised signal timing at the intersection of McCoy Lane and Broadway.
The modifications are part of a joint effort between the city and Caltrans to improve traffic flow and access to nearby shopping centers, while optimizing vehicle and pedestrian safety.
The new median replaces one built in August 2008, which restricted all left turns into and out of the Walgreens and the Kohl’s Shopping Center. The most recent project went into effect after community members told the city some traffic safety concerns.
City staffers are expected monitor the effectiveness of the new project and report to the Santa Maria City Council in June.
For more information about the project, call the Santa Maria Public Works Department at 925-0951, Ext. 225.
News Briefs is compiled by Staff Writer Amy Asman from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Mar 5-12, 2009.
