Speed Radar Signs Coming To Stretch Of State Route 520

SEATTLE — Drivers who take State Route 520 over Lake Washington will soon notice new electronic speed signs on the Seattle side as part of an effort to slow vehicles down around construction zones in the Montlake area.

WSDOT reduced the speed limit in the area to 40 mph and is installing the new, radar-powered signs between the floating bridge and Interstate 5. The signs will display each vehicle's speed and flash a "slow down" message when they exceed 40 mph. Officials said they placed the four signs to enhance safety around the Montlake and SR 520/I-5 Express Lanes Connection projects, as well as the future Portage Bay Bridge project.

"Sometimes it's easy to forget amidst the heavy equipment, hard hats and vests, but we have real people working in our work zones who want to return home to their families every night," WSDOT wrote this week. "Our crews work inches from active traffic to improve everyone's travel. While we do everything we can to protect them, most of them can recount multiple times they had to dodge drivers speeding into their work zones, or worse."