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news
Construction of
'Iron Triangle' complete
By Melissa Anderson
Summer-Forty Niner
Students and other
drivers can spend less time waiting in the left turn lane
on Seventh Street and Bellflower Boulevard now that the construction
of the "Iron Triangle" has been completed.
The intersection
where Seventh Street meets Pacific Coast Highway and Bellflower
Boulevard is known as the "Iron Triangle," which
in the past has caused an abundance of traffic congestion.
According to Ed
Norris, Acting Division Engineer, Traffic, for the city of
Long Beach the construction of the "Iron Triangle"
began in conjunction with the Caltrans reconstruction project
of PCH.
To help lessen
the congestion of drivers heading eastbound on Seventh Street
and then attempting to turn left onto Bellflower, another
left turn lane has been added on PCH.
"It's more
of a quick fix that will help alleviate congestion,"
said Norris. "Interim improvements are not ultimately
what's planned."
The City of Long
Beach Department of Public Works has added another lane that
allows you to turn left onto Bellflower from PCH. What you
have to do while traveling eastbound on Seventh Street is
to make a right turn to PCH, then make a left turn onto Bellflower
going north.
"The Iron
Triangle project is intended to improve traffic safety and
reduce congestion to the extent possible," said Norris.
According to Norris
the decision was made by staff after a consultant did a study
of the intersection. The high congestion called for an improvement.
The Traffic Mitigation Program funded the project. The
program's funds exist from developer impact fees.
"Any developer
that applies for a permit has to pay a certain number of user
fees," said Norris. "An example would be a commercial
contractor. Any commercial development over 3,000 square feet
has to pay the transportation improvement fee. The fee is
three dollars a square foot, and this goes into the fund for
things such as the Iron Triangle."
According to Norris
this is all the construction that is scheduled close to campus
for now. The only other project is the Lakewood Boulevard
Improvement Project, between Willow and Carson.
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