Republic file photo A multiple-vehicle accident blocked lanes on 25th Street near Washington Street this past September in Columbus.
Two contracts with a consulting firm to evaluate Washington Street near 11th Street, and the 25th Street corridor from Central Avenue to Washington, are intriguing, and probably long overdue.
With the Rubicon apartment complex being planned for the Washington Street, a multi-story behemoth that will tower over nearby buildings and the intersection, the city has already heard complaints from residents about the traffic at the intersection, and how it will be affected by the development.
And 25th Street.
Well, let’s just say the four-lane street is well known for drivers who run red lights, routinely speed well over the 30 mph speed limit and use some aggressive driving tactics for passing. When you add in the students attempting to get to school, whether on foot or by car, the school buses and occasional semis, well, it’s an interesting mix for a city street.
There’s a lot to unpack here.
We agree with the community that the Washington and 11th Street intersection needs to be evaluated for safety, compliance with traffic signals, and understanding that the “no right turn on red” actually means drivers are not supposed to turn right on red. The additional traffic caused by the Rubicon development will only add to the congestion and confusion at that intersection as drivers approach downtown.
The line of sight is blocked by structures at the intersection, making it even more important that the intersection be evaluated.
And as for 25th Street, the city’s evaluation is planned to “support a reduction in the number of travel lanes that coincides with a mill and overlay project the City of Columbus has scheduled for 2025.”
City officials said the potential reconfiguration would reduce 25th street from four-lanes to three, meaning the third lane could potentially become the protected left turn lane.
This could either be a game-changer or disaster, but hopefully it would slow down the 25th Street traffic between Central Avenue and Washington Street, and serve as a deterrent to some of the more egregious driving behavior that’s going on daily.
We can only hope.
