One of the most talked-about intersections in Juneau saw another destructive accident Monday morning.
At about 11 a.m. Monday, two cars collided at the intersection of Egan Drive and Yandukin Drive near Fred Meyer. The vehicles were both totaled, according to a Juneau Police Department dispatch, but there were no reported injuries. JPD received a call about the collision at 11:06 a.m. Traffic was closed in the outbound right lane until about 11:45 a.m.
Both Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Ed Quinto and Juneau Police Department Lt. Krag Campbell said the crash was the result of driver error. Quinto said icy roads were not a factor, and Campbell said that no alcohol or any other substances were involved. The crash, Campbell said, was simply due to one driver not paying close enough attention.
Juneau drivers commonly refer to the intersection as one of the most dangerous in town. The Department of Transportation &Public Facilities has commissioned a study from Kinney Engineering to examine the intersection’s dangers and possible solutions. The study will be done in March, but so far it has revealed that between 2005 and 2014, the intersection resulted in the eighth-most crashes of any intersection in Juneau and the third-most crash-related injuries of any intersection in town.
Kinney’s study has identified three possible changes to the intersection that could make it safer: putting a traffic signal at the intersection; extending Glacier Highway behind Fred Meyer to the so-called McNugget Intersection and eliminating left turns at the Fred Meyer intersection; and creating an overpass so Egan Drive can run unaffected and exit ramps can lead to Fred Meyer and Yandukin Drive.
DOT&PF held a community meeting this past Tuesday, where more than 80 community members showed up to share their thoughts on the intersection and the possible solutions moving forward. The main focus was how to cut down on left turns at that intersection, as the speed of oncoming traffic is sometimes hard to judge.
DOT&PF is currently accepting public comment until Jan. 12, with forms available on the DOT&PF website. The project has its own page on the DOT&PF website, including updates on the research process and a fact sheet that provides more information.
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or alex.mccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.
