Washington state鈥檚 most dangerous intersection is where meet, just south of Toppenish.
Two-lane HIghway 97 is one of the busiest north-south corridors in the state, second only to Interstate 5. Semitrucks carrying apples, hay and livestock turn right onto Larue Road to bypass Toppenish on their way east to the Tri-Cities and beyond, or turn left in the opposite direction heading south.
These 18-wheeled behemoths need to slow down to make the turn, and fast-moving traffic often swerves into the oncoming lane to maintain speed. There鈥檚 no passing lane on Highway 97 鈥� no way to separate industrial traffic from passenger cars, including tourists visiting the Columbia Gorge and Eastern Washington鈥檚 wineries. There鈥檚 no sidewalk for pedestrians. Everyone on the road shares two lanes and a hope that disasters can be avoided by quick-acting drivers. And that鈥檚 when the weather is good.
Now, a traffic sensor invented by the or STAR Lab, keeps a 24-hour vigil over the intersection.