Close encounters of the traffic kind

They’re back. The field of flexible traffic poles have returned to the Barrett Avenue and Key Boulevard sideshow deterrence pilot project last week.

Last month, city contractors installed a surface-mounted curb system, high-visibility continental crosswalks, bikeway striping, a red curb, and refreshed turn and stop indicators in the East Richmond residential neighborhood to curb reckless driving. 

A few weeks later, the traffic delineators—vertical posts, poles, or flexible barriers designed to guide vehicles and pedestrians while improving traffic flow and safety—were removed. However, new poles were installed on Thursday, January 16.

During a post-completion inspection with the construction manager, city staff found the initially installed posts were the wrong height, said Assistant Deputy Director of Public Works Engineering Josef Munoz.

“These were removed and replaced this week with the correct ones as specified in the original plan,” Munoz said.

The project and a similar one on South 37th Street and Wall Avenue are part of a $1.2 million package of 18 traffic calming projects approved by the Richmond City Council in November 2022.

Public Works details Richmond sideshow deterrence pilot projects

The Public Works Department detailed two sideshow deterrence pilot projects during a midyear budget review at Tuesday night’s Richmond City Council meeting. The two locations at Barrett Avenue and Key Boulevard and South 37th Street and Wall Avenue are part of a $1.2 million package of 18 traffic

Grandview IndependentSoren Hemmila

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