The Ninth Street and Cloud Street intersection is open to unrestricted traffic.
One of the new features of this intersection are the traffic signal lights that incorporate a flashing yellow arrow for left turns.
These are the first traffic signals in Salina to use the flashing yellow arrows.
What the arrows mean
Solid red arrow: Drivers intending to turn left must stop and wait. Do not enter an intersection to turn when a solid red arrow is being displayed
Solid yellow arrow: The left-turn signal is about to change to red and drivers should prepare to stop or prepare to complete a left turn if they are legally within the intersection and there is no conflicting traffic present.
Flashing yellow arrow: Drivers are allowed to turn left after yielding to all oncoming traffic and to any pedestrians in the crosswalk. Oncoming traffic has a green light. Drivers must wait for a safe gap in oncoming traffic before turning.
Solid green arrow: Left turns have the right of way. Oncoming traffic has a red light.
What makes the flashing yellow arrow a better signal?
A national study conducted for the Federal Highway Administration demonstrated that this new signal indication:
• Helps to prevent crashes. The study concluded that drivers
found the new flashing yellow arrows easier to understand than the traditional yield-on-green indications.
• Increases the amount of traffic that moves through an
intersection. There are more opportunities to make a left turn with the flashing yellow arrow than the fully protected left turn indication with only a green arrow.
• Provides more flexibility. The new signal provides more
options for traffic engineers to handle variable traffic volumes and patterns.