Worst Intersections in Town - Officials Explain

Even in a valley of less than 40,000 people, street congestion is a problem.

We asked you to in the Sonoma Valley and your responded in force – pointing the finger at the worst slow four-way stops and dangerous blind-merges both on and on our Facebook site. 

Some of the worst problems on this list will be eradicated in the next few months, as government workers begin large public works projects to construct new thoroughfares through town. (Check out the "intersection" part of the city's general plan, in the pdf at right.) But other annoying streets still fly under the radar.

Here's the rundown:

West Spain St and Fifth St West

One of the worst non-signalized intersections in Sonoma, the intersection of West Spain/ Fifth Street West already registers an F on the city's congestion scale – meaning drivers can expect "excessive delay...jammed conditions" and delays of 54 seconds or more may block opposing traffic. By 2020 the city's Capital Improvement Plan calls for a traffic light at this intersection, which should bring delays down to the "acceptable delay" of a C scale – meaning an average wait of 31.63 seconds.

Broadway and West Napa Street

The entrance to Sonoma's historic Plaza is a problem – and the city knows it. Drivers here wait an average of 31 seconds, an "approaching unstable" D-level ranking, but by 2020 wait times are expected to surge to a 110 second wait per driver, placing this intersection below the lowest rung of an "unacceptable" F-grade. What's planned? Mainly: nothing. Any changes to this intersection would have to pass through the City Council, which has thrown down plans to change this intersection in the past. "The installation of traffic signal would likely damage the historic character of the Plaza," explains the general plan.

Highway 12 and Verano Ave.

The second worst signaled intersection in the Valley, drivers crossing Highway 12 at Verano can expect "C" level wait times of 21.6 seconds. It's expected to increase to an average wait of 25.6 seconds by 2020, but improving congestion here is not on the city's priority list at the moment.

Broadway and Hwy 121

After years of accidents at what many consider the entrance to Sonoma, changes are afoot.  "They've begun demolition of the building, which is the prelude to September construction," said Tom O’Kane, Deputy Director for Sonoma County Public Works Department. A traffic light will be added, in addition to improvements to the road, according to O'Kane.  "It’s been programmed for many years, but there were delays. The county intervened on behalf of the fire department and CalTrans and kind of mediated the solution," he said.

Arnold Drive and Verano Ave 

Nothing scheduled here, but O'Kane is quick to point-out the much debated , funded by Measure M, a road improvement tax passed in 2004.  "It’s long delays, and people cut throught he neighborhoods to avoid the intersection," he said.

Traffic Light at Arnold Drive and Highway 121

"It’s not a priority for the state at this time," said O'Kane. “I don’t think there’s any question that some improvements need to be made there. The state uses a different criteria in looking at intersections, but the cost is probably prohibitive to them." Improvements to this intersection clocked in at an estimated $10 million, but the county has put up $300,000 from its congestion mitigation fund for the preliminary engineering work, according to O'Kane.