Whiting Street PD&E Study

Location A: Whiting Street from Meridian Avenue to Brush Street

At this location, we will fulfill our commitment to the community to restore the street network. Right now, Whiting Street is cut off by the railroad tracks that run north-south next to Meridian Avenue. The preferred alternative would construct a new portion of Whiting Street to connect Brush Street to Meridian Avenue north of the existing intersection of Whiting Street and Meridian Avenue.

A new traffic signal would be installed at the intersection of Brush Street and Whiting Street. The new portion of the Whiting Street would have 2 lanes in the eastbound direction, 1 lane in the westbound direction, and a separated 2-way cycle track on the north side of the road. Wide sidewalks would be constructed on both sides of the road. On Meridian Avenue, the grass median would be separated at the new Whiting Street connection to include a northbound dedicated left turn lane from Meridian Avenue to Whiting Street and the median would also be separated to feed a southbound left turn lane from Meridian Avenue to Whiting Street.

This would improve the street network for this area and allow for the grid to be expanded in the future. This also provides an additional crosswalk opportunity, which would improve pedestrian convenience and safety. The new signal at Meridian Avenue would be coordinated to operate with the existing signal to the south to ensure efficient flow of the traffic.

Click on the image below to see all of the improvements in this location as part of the preferred alternative.

Location B: Whiting Street from Jefferson Street to Brush Street including an Intersection at the End of the New Whiting Street Exit Ramp

The preferred alternative would bring the existing portion of Whiting Street from 2 lanes to 3 lanes, with 2 eastbound lanes and 1 westbound lane. A separated 2-way cycle track would be added to the north side of the road. Left turns from Jackson Street would be restricted to improve safety and traffic flow.

The existing ramp for Exit 6B would be moved to the north to connect to Whiting Street instead of Channelside Drive (see Location D). This would create a new intersection where the new 6B exit ramp would connect to Whiting Street.

The new ramp would have three lanes where it meets Whiting Street. One lane would turn left (west) onto Whiting Street and two lanes would turn right (east) onto Whiting Street. Enhanced crosswalks would be constructed on either side of the ramp to cross Whiting Street and at the end of the ramp.

Click on the image below to see all of the improvements in this location as part of the preferred alternative. Please note, improvements for Locations B and C are shown together.

Location C: Jefferson Street Entrance Ramp and the New Whiting Street Exit Ramp

As part of the preferred alternative, the existing ramp for Exit 6B would be moved to the north to connect to Whiting Street instead of Channelside Drive (see Location D). The ramp would begin with 1 lane and end with 3 lanes, 1 for turning westbound (left) and 2 to turn eastbound (right) onto Whiting Street. Moving the ramp for Exit 6B would require two modifications to what is out there today. The beginning of the entrance ramp from Jefferson Street to the eastbound Selmon Expressway would move to the north to make room for moving Exit 6B. And a connection between Nebraska Avenue and Finley Street would be constructed.

Click on the image below to see all of the improvements in this location as part of the preferred alternative. Please note, improvements for Locations B and C are shown together.

Location D: Removal of Exit Ramp 6B and Operational Improvements to Exit Ramp 6A

Right now, both eastbound downtown exits, Exit 6A and 6B, leave the Expressway at the same point. Separating the exit ramps and moving Exit 6B to the northeast will make this area safer. Once the exit ramp for Exit 6B moves to the northeast, the existing pavement for the diagonal ramp would be removed.

Modifications to Exit 6A would include lengthening the striping for the exit to begin earlier. Safety improvements to the loop ramp would include adding a high friction surface, adding a pedestrian signal at the ramp’s connection with Florida Avenue, and removing the existing landscaping within the inside of the ramp loop to improve sight distance.

Click on the image below to see all of the improvements in this location as part of the preferred alternative.