What’s Up with That? Worries over traffic, safety nix left turn into Costco

Why did they make it so we can’t turn left into Costco from Andresen when heading north? Now we have to loop all the way around the store. It doesn’t seem to have helped traffic around there at all and just makes things less convenient for everyone. Whose idea was that?

— Anna Jean Stull, Marrion

Well Anna, the bold decision to redirect part of Vancouver’s bulk-food-purchasing community was made by Clark County.

The left turn lane off Andresen Road onto Northeast 84th Street closed in late 2009 to improve general safety and prevent a queue of cars from backing up traffic to Padden Parkway, said Jeff Mize, county spokesman. Travelers can still enter and exit the complex directly via right turns from Northeast 84th Street when using southbound Andresen Road.

If it comes as any consolation, the light at Northeast 88th Street — where northbound travelers now turn to enter the bulk-food warehouse — has been outfitted with road sensors, traffic cameras and radar to control the lights, Mize said.

That means less waiting for timers and road sensors to trip a signal change. Mize said this will ultimately allow better traffic flow during busy times.

A permanent median won’t replace the orange barrels and traffic cones in the immediate future. According to Mize, the county plans to reassess the left turn after upgrading lights at the intersection of Padden Parkway and Andresen Road this summer.

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