Bridge Street backed up

Q: What is being done about the terrible traffic that backs up going east on Bridge Street between Walton Avenue and Highway 99? The signal at Highway 99 stayed red for so long that traffic backed up in the Oji Way intersection. Even if you have a green light at Oji, you can't go anywhere. Who is responsible for planning this so poorly and what is being done about it?

A: With all the gang-related gunfire recently on that stretch of Bridge Street, it's not surprising that you'd prefer to keep moving. The stress of being caught in Yuba City's worst traffic gridlock was bad enough.

Help is on the way, according to George Musallam, Yuba City's director of pubic works. The city is working with Caltrans to coordinate the signals so that when the light is green for eastbound traffic on Bridge, the light at Highway 99 will also be green, he said.

"I think it will result in a major improvement, hopefully within the month," Musallam said.

Caltrans District 3 spokeswoman Keri Ehrman confirmed that a fix is in the works.

"We're constantly reviewing and updating" the timing of signals, she said.

Q: Every night at about 11:45 p.m. I get to the intersection of 14th and B streets in Marysville on my way home from work and have to sit at the light on 14th for eight to 10 minutes sometimes so I can turn left onto B. Most lights after dark change to green when you get up to them but not this one. Usually someone has to go north on B and turn left onto 14th before it changes. Some drivers end up going through the red light. What's up with this?

A: The signal was checked because of your inquiry and was found to be working correctly, said Caltrans District 3 spokeswoman Keri Ehrman.

She added that the checking took place during daylight hours, not at night when you pass through the intersection. But a signal that's working normally during the day would also be working at night, she said.

Knowing next to zilch about how these things work (and being unwilling to get out of bed in the middle of the night to check it ourselves), we accepted Keri's answer.

If that light really stays red for eight to 10 minutes, we trust you're sitting there knitting a sweater or something instead of proceeding on red.

If any other drivers out there have had the same experience at that intersection, the number to call is below.

Since You Asked is published Tuesdays. Send questions to reporter Rob Young at the Appeal-Democrat, P.O. Box 431, Marysville CA 95901, e-mail him at ryoung@appeal-democrat.com or call 749-4710.