WASHINGTON — New safety improvements are in place on the Springfield Interchange for drivers getting onto the 495 Express Lanes heading north.
The upgrades are a direct response to a fatal car crash that happened there in May 2014. Transurban’s Mike McGurk says the enhancements are the result of an independent review following the accident.
In May, a South Carolina woman put on her brakes after mistakenly getting into the 495 Express Lanes in Springfield and was killed when another car crashed into her minivan.
McGurk says the upgrades are about cutting down on confusion.
The safety enhancements include a new overhead entrance sign with two flashing lights that is designed to act as final warning before the Express Lanes.
Another safety improvement is reflective raised pavement markers which run along about ¼ mile before before the Express Lanes entrance. These markers let drivers know they’re on entry lanes rather than regular lanes.
In the spring, Transurban says they’ll be putting in eight EZ Pass pavement markings, four in each entry lane, to remind drivers an EZ pass is required. The EZ Pass markings will be 12′ tall by 10′ wide; the “Entrance Only” sign is 11′ tall by 18′ wide.
