New Federal Highway Administration guidelines result in the first installation of “flashing yellow arrow” signals in Kingsport
KINGSPORT – While motorists in the Carolinas, Kentucky, and elsewhere may have already seen the result of new Federal Highway Administration guidelines, the upcoming completion of the improved intersections of Clinchfield and Roller streets along Sullivan Street will mark the first flashing yellow arrow on Kingsport traffic signals.
The federal regulations provide for an alternative to the ubiquitous green ball in a five-section turn signal head used for years to signal permissive left turn movements against oncoming traffic.
The new signals offer a safer, more efficient way to handle traffic turning left at busy intersections, Kingsport Traffic Engineer Tim Elsea said. The signals are being introduced nationwide as a result of a national study, conducted for the Federal Highway Administration, that showed they help prevent crashes, move more traffic through intersections and provide additional traffic management flexibility.
The signals are placed over left-turn lanes at intersections. One of the displays on the signal is a flashing-yellow arrow.
Other displays are a steady-green arrow, steady-yellow arrow and steady-red arrows, with the flashing yellow arrow replacing the now outdated green orb. The steady yellow displays just prior to turning to a red arrow.
When the flashing-yellow arrow is displayed, motorists are allowed to turn left when there are gaps in oncoming traffic or no pedestrians in the intersection, Elsea said. Motorists may also turn left as normally when a green arrow is displayed and oncoming traffic has stopped. They should not turn left when the red left-turn arrow is displayed.
Additionally, because the new signals will ultimately be required by the Federal Highway Administration in the future, motorists will see the same left-turn-arrow signals across the country, rather than the different configurations that are used from community to community. Kingsport will continue adding these flashing yellow arrows as hardware and infrastructure is updated.
The signals should go live as the current phase of the Sullivan Street project wraps up in the 10 to 14 days.
For more information please visit the City of Kingsport website www.kingsporttn.gov and look for the signal head under City News. The link will provide a You Tube video and other information on the functionality of the signal head. Citizens may also call the Kingsport Traffic Department at 229-9487.