City staff say signage or driveway closure, not roundabout, are practical fixes for T‑intersection crashes

Federal Way public works staff told the City Council on July 15 that engineering options — not a roundabout — are the practical near-term responses to recurring crashes at a T‑intersection where a private driveway intersects the roadway.

The issue matters because the driveway predates current city standards and sits where modern rules would forbid it; staff said the location has been the scene of several collisions involving suspected DUI or excessive speed, and neighbors worry for pedestrian and senior safety.

Public Works Director EJ Walsh briefed the council in response to a resident complaint about the intersection identified in the presentation. Walsh said the site predates incorporation and explained current standards: “the minimum spacing between driveways is a 150 feet,” and “driveways that serve only…