Changes coming to busy Pasco intersection after uptick in traffic, crashes
Starting Wednesday, drivers will notice a big change at an increasingly dangerous intersection near one of the busiest areas of Pasco.
There will be two new stop signs on the east and west sides of Sandifur Parkway at Convention Drive, upgrading the intersection to a four-way stop.
Flags and temporary signs will alert drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Deputy Public Works Director Mary Heather Ames told the Tri-City Herald that the city completed a traffic study of the intersection earlier this month and determined that it needed improvements.
The study showed a recent history of crashes and increased traffic at the intersection of Convention Drive and Sandifur Parkway.
Ames said there were five crashes at the intersection each year from 2023-24.
Set by a national standard, there is a threshold of five or more crashes per year for traffic control studies, according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.
More vehicles continue to travel through the intersection, which Ames attributes to population growth in Pasco and the Tri-Cities area.
The city is now moving ahead with a straightforward, low-cost solution. It costs Pasco less than $1,000 to install the two new stop signs.
Eventually, the city will add pavement markings below the new signs.
Ames said it’s possible that the the city would install a roundabout or traffic signal at the intersection in the future.
The city previously conducted a traffic study of Convention Drive and Sandifur Parkway in 2023. At the time, the study indicated that the intersection did not need any updates.
Ames suggested that drivers refresh themselves on Washington’s right-of-way guidelines for four-way stops.
The Washington State Driver Guide states that the right of way in a four-way stop goes to the first driver to reach the intersection at a complete stop. If more than one driver gets there at the same time, the vehicle to the right goes first.
There also is a traffic change to access the parking lot at Gesa Stadium. Visitors should use the parking lot entrance and exits on Homerun Road. The city is transitioning away from the Burden Boulevard entrance to make room for new development around the stadium.
