— from County Public Works —
Beginning in early December, San Juan County Public Works will begin installing new Regulatory and Warning signs on Orcas Island’s County Roads. Regulatory signs include Stop, Yield, and Speed Limit signs. Warning signs include Turn/Curve, Pedestrian Warning, School Bus Stop Ahead, and Chevron signs.
Why do we need new traffic signs?
These signs are being installed as part of a federal program to improve safety by replacing traffic signs nationwide with more reflective signs. Increasing reflectivity is important because most accidents occur at night. The “Run-Off Road and Intersection Safety Project – Sign Replacement Program” is a federally funded grant program that will bring the County into compliance with sign standards. These standards increase awareness at the most accident prone sites and critical areas, create consistency in sign placement and usage, and increase sign visibility for older drivers and nighttime driving.
Why are there paint marks on the pavement and lath on the road
shoulders?
Before installing new signs, all utilities must be located to make sure that none of them are hit when the sign posts are driven into the ground. This requires placing a lath where the sign is to be installed and spray painting white locate marks on the road shoulder. The various utilities use orange, red, blue and green paint. That is why there are so many marks on the road.
When will all the signs be installed?
Installation is expected to last for approximately one month and is being carried out by County personnel. Please be considerate of the workers, don’t disturb the stakes or paint marks and drive safely and slowly through the work zone.
Are you kidding me? There’s sign going in every place the road is marked with spray paint? What a great idea! We can allow signs for realtors and roadside stands and wedding directions and Burma Shave poetry and rename the island “Gesticulation Islet” C’mon!!!!!!
When will the BYPASS speed limit be restored, since we had the great celebration that the work was done. Hey commissioners, would you have tolerated the level of incompetence we have witnessed in your own businesses? I think not.
Fascinating!
It’s one thing to replace signs with better reflecting ones. It’s another to add more and more signs on an island that already has too many–it’s visual blight. Which is it?