This Fresno High intersection to get modern safety upgrades. ‘We have a responsibility’

A crossroads a few blocks north of Fresno High School is getting an upgrade that a city leader says will reduce collisions, improve accessibility, and modernize the intersection.

The project will add protected left-turn signal phasing for eastbound and westbound traffic at N Van Ness Boulevard and E Clinton Avenue in central Fresno.

“When we know an intersection can be made safer, we have a responsibility to act,” District 1 Councilmember Annalisa Perea said in a statement.

The new signal will provide a dedicated time interval where left-turning vehicles have the exclusive right-of-way, indicated by a green arrow, with all conflicting oncoming traffic and pedestrian crossing stopped.

The City Council allocated $1.7 million in state funds for the upgrades on Thursday, August 17.

More improvements part of project

Additional improvements include accessible pedestrian signals, countdown pedestrian heads, reconstruction of all four curb ramps to meet current ADA standards, new striping, pavement repairs, and upgraded technology that will allow the city to remotely monitor and manage the traffic signal.

The project will remove two existing sidewalk trees to clear visibility of the intersection and crosswalks. The city will replace the trees as part of the Urban Forest Management plan, according to the environmental assessment.

$1.74M project funded by state transportation dollars

The council previously identified the intersection as a priority for Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, which allocates $5.4 billion annually to fix roads and highways across the state.

The project is fully funded by SB1 transportation funds, at a total cost of around $1.74 million.

“Although this intersection meets industry standards, we should always look for opportunities to make our streets safer,” Perea said. “Public safety does not begin when an emergency happens. It begins with the decisions we make to prevent one.”