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LED Stop Sign Upgrade Project

Work ongoing through 2024

LED stop sign lights installed in spring 2021 to address safety concerns at SE Kent-Kangley Road and Landsburg Road SE/SE Ravensdale Way. 

One of two stop signs with flashing, LED lights installed in spring 2021 to address safety concerns at SE Kent-Kangley Road and Landsburg Road SE/SE Ravensdale Way.  

Project overview

King County is making roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists at 17 intersections. We are removing the old stop signs and overhead flashing lights and installing new, bright LED flashing stop signs. LED stop signs add a dimension of visibility with strobing lights around the outer edge. This means that drivers see them earlier, day and night. We’re also adding yellow LED flashing lights and improved “advance warning” road signs to alert drivers about the upcoming stop sign. The earlier visibility helps ensure vehicles have more time to stop, creating safer conditions for all travelers.

Locations for this project have been identified as high-priority traffic safety improvement sites. Nearly all the new signs will be solar powered.

King County will continue the effort to improvement safety by adding LED stop signs and flashers at additional locations in late 2024 and beyond.

24/7 Road Helpline

24/7 Road Helpline

Call us for help at 206-477-8100 or 1-800-527-6237 with road maintenance and traffic safety issues in unincorporated King County — 24 hours a day

2024 LED stop sign upgrade maps

 

What to expect during construction

  • When work is occurring, access in the intersection will be reduced to one lane and traffic will be controlled with a flagger.  
  • Work will occur Monday through Friday during between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. with later start times and early end times for high volume roadways.  

2024 LED stop sign upgrade locations 

Some locations have pavement patching or sidewalk panel replacement which is weather sensitive.  Scheduled work days are subject to changes based on material or crew availability and weather. Lighting is improved in partnership with Puget Sound Energy.   

Intersection Neighborhood Intersection Type Scope of Work Expected Construction Date
16th Avenue SW & SW 98th Street  White Center  All-way stop (no flasher)  Replace standard stop signs with four solar powered LED stop signs Fall/Winter 2024
59th Avenue S & S Langston Rd Skyway All-way stop (no flasher) Replace standard stop signs with three solar powered LED stop signs Fall/Winter 2024
Langston Road S & S 132nd Street Skyway Two-way stop Remove overhead wires and flashers and replace with two solar powered LED stop signs and one LED yellow flashing advance warning sign. Fall/Winter 2024
28th Avenue S & S 360th Street East Federal Way All-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and the standard stop signs and replace with four solar powered LED stop signs. Fall/Winter 2024
276th Avenue SE & SE 216th Street East of Hobart Two-way stop Remove overhead flashers for eastbound and the standard stop sign; replace with one solar powered LED stop sign and two LED yellow flashing advance warning signs. Fall/Winter 2024
148th Avenue SE & SE 224th Street East of Kent Two-way stop (no flasher) Remove existing stop signs; install two solar powered LED stop signs and one LED yellow flashing advance warning sign. Fall/Winter 2024
164th Avenue SE & SE 224th Street East of Kent T-intersection; one way stop (no flasher) Replace one existing stop sign with an LED solar powered sign and install two LED yellow flashing advance warning signs. Fall/Winter 2024
164th Avenue SE & SE 240th Street East of Kent All-way stop Remove existing stop signs and overhead flashing light; replace with four LED stop signs. Fall/Winter 2024
196th Avenue SE & SE 232nd Street West of Maple Valley All-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and standard stop signs and replace with four solar powered LED stop signs. Fall/Winter 2024
212th Avenue SE & SE 400th Street North of Enumclaw Two-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and standard stop signs; replace with two solar powered LED stop signs and two LED yellow flashing advance warning signs. Fall/Winter 2024
244th Avenue SE & SE 416th Street North of Enumclaw All-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and standard stop signs; replace with four solar powered LED stop signs. Fall/Winter 2024
284th Avenue SE & SE 416th Street North of Enumclaw Two-way stop (no flasher) Remove standard stop signs and replace with two solar powered LED stop signs; install two LED yellow flashing advance warning signs. Fall/Winter 2024
218th Way SE & SE Green Valley Road SW of Black Diamond All-way stop (no flasher) Replace standard stop signs with four solar powered LED stop signs. Fall/Winter 2024
Vashon Hwy SW & SW 204th Street Vashon All-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and standard stop signs and replace with four solar powered LED stop signs. We will also remove the pole and repair the nearby pavement. Fall/Winter 2024
Vashon Hwy SW & SW Bank Road Vashon All-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and standard stop signs and replace with four solar powered LED stop signs. Replace three sidewalk panels. Fall/Winter 2024
Vashon Hwy SW & SW Burton Road Vashon All-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and standard stop signs and replace with four solar powered LED stop signs. Fall/Winter 2024
Vashon Hwy SW & SW Cemetery Road Vashon All-way stop Remove overhead wires, flashers, and standard stop signs and replace with four solar powered LED stop signs and two LED yellow flashing advance warning signs. Fall/Winter 2024

Project photos

All Way Stop at SE 232nd St and 196th Ave SE near Maple Valley.

All four stop signs at this All Way stop at SE 232nd Street and 196th Avenue SE near Maple Valley will be replaced with solar powered flashing LED stop signs. The existing wires and overhead flashing light will be removed. These improvements replace out-of-date technology with new infrastructure that increases safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.  View larger image (1MB)

 

Three stop signs at the intersection of 59th Avenue S and South Langston Road

The three stop signs at the intersection of 59th Avenue S and South Langston Road will be replaced with solar powered flashing LED stop signs.  View larger image (2MB)

 

Advance warning sign with LED lights at the intersection of SE 224th St and 148th Avenue SE near Lake Youngs.

This is an example of an advance warning sign with LED lights at the intersection of SE 224th Street and 148th Avenue SE near Lake Youngs. The lights alert drivers in both daylight and nighttime and improve safety.  View larger image (1MB)

 

Frequently asked questions

Yes. stop signs are eight-sided signs that are red with white letters. You must come to a full stop at a marked stop line, but if none, before entering a marked crosswalk or, if none, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic. You must wait until crossing vehicles and pedestrians have cleared and pull forward only when it is safe.  

Flashing stop signs are more noticeable than static signs, especially in low-light conditions or areas with high traffic volumes. The flashing lights can serve as a visual cue to drivers, prompting them to pay closer attention to the intersection and come to a complete stop.  

Washington State law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, unless directed otherwise by a police officer, firefighter, or authorized flagger:

  • At a clearly marked stop line
  • Before entering a marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection
  • At the nearest point to the intersection where the driver can see approaching traffic
 

 


These 17 locations were selected because they are high-traffic and/or high-accident locations. We're installing this new technology where it can do the most good. We will continue to install LED stop signs and advance warning flashers in the future at additional locations.

When installing the new LED stop and advanced warning signs, crews may reduce traffic to one lane when there is not room on the shoulder for work vehicles. Flaggers will be used to control traffic within the work zone, with minimal delay to travelers. Work will take 1-2 days at each of the 17 intersections. We do not anticipate any full closures with detours. Buses, both school and Metro, will be given priority through the workzone.  

Yes. Our LED signs are solar powered, and they charge by absorbing energy from the daylight and transmit this energy into the electric power that the LED bulbs need to work. The signs are carbon neutral and don’t require cords, cables, or connection through ground lines.   

Project timeline

Construction will take place in Fall/Winter 2024 and include 30 working days.

Project budget

The total cost of this project is $810,000 ($120,000 design and $690,000 construction). 90 percent is funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program via the Washington State Department of Transportation and 10 percent is local matching funds.

 

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