Healdsburg hopes to break people's two-way habit with new large electronic signs to remind them that Foss Creek Circle is now one-way.
The signs, installed several weeks ago, will be left up until the end of this month, said Marjie Pettus, city manager.
"Foss Creek Circle seems to be a bit of a challenge," Pettus said Wednesday. "We put the electronic signs up because too many people failed to recognize and adhere to the directional signage."
She said that city staff members, including police and field employees, noticed that drivers were inattentive.
"Many were distracted by the use of their cell phones," Pettus said. "I asked for the electronic signs to be placed on the street with the hope that people will pay closer attention."
Before the signs went up, Stefano Giovannoni said he drove especially as he entered the curve past Parkpoint health club.
"Every time I drive to the post office, I fear rounding the 'circle,'" Giovannoni said in an Oct. 23 email. "I usually find one person going the wrong direction –- three times so far this week."
He said he was pleased to see the electronic signs go up a few days later.
"I know they are only a temporary 'training tool' and won't stay up forever, but if they help prevent an accident, especially with the rain coming, then it will be a blessing," Giovannoni said.
"I still suggest that they paint directional arrows on the asphalt of both lanes so that people can tell if the are turning or driving towards an arrow then they are going the wrong way," he said.
Pettus said she has had mixed feedback regarding the one-way street, which went into effect the first week of October.
Although nearly everyone in a Patch poll in August said the one-way should go counter-clockwise, city officials said they had to do it in a clockwise direction because a business on the street could not use its loading dock from the counter-clockwise direction.
"At this point, we will continue to monitor the situation," Pettus said.
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