On Monday, the Buzz received an inquiry about a relatively new stop sign on N. Larchmont Blvd., at Clinton St., which seems to be facing the wrong way.  According to the query, a pair of new signs was recently installed in the median area of Larchmont, one just south of Clinton, visible to northbound traffic on Larchmont, and one just north of Clinton, visible to southbound traffic. Or at least, that’s where it looks like the signs should be facing.
Instead, the sign on the north side of the street is now facing the opposite direction, so northbound drivers are confronted with three stop signs (one at the corner, one in the median on the south side of Clinton, and one in the median on the north side of Clinton – as shown in the above photo)…while southbound drivers on Larchmont see only one stop sign, at the corner of the block and at least partially obstructed by a tree trunk.
The Buzz contacted Estevan Montemayor, Director of Communications for City Council Member David Ryu, about the odd sign, to see if it was intentionally installed the way it currently stands, or if there was an error somewhere along the way. Â Montemayor contacted the Department of Transportation, and learned that the sign was originally installed facing the other direction, so that it would be visible to southbound drivers. Â And as proof, he sent this photo from Google street view.
At some point in time, said Montemayor, the sign must have been turned around, though it’s “unclear how that happened.”  He also said that the city will send out a crew to put it back the way it’s supposed to face – visible to southbound drivers on Larchmont.
Interestingly, at the time the Buzz arrived to take pictures of the signs yesterday morning, a collision had just occurred at the intersection.  It’s not known whether the disrupted signage contributed to the crash, but we hope safety at the location will improve when the median sign is once again visible to southbound drivers, as was originally intended.
My work space allows visibility to the Larchmont/Clinton intersection. This is an extremely dangerous intersection, not due to one of two north facing stop signs facing south, but because easily 80% drivers accelerating the very long block north from Rosewood to Melrose barely tap their brakes at the Clinton crossing, many simply speed through. Dangerous for cars crossing Larchmont, where I have personally been at a full stop on Clinton, started through Larchmont only to have a Larchmont driver not slow down, though driver on right has right of way.
In addition the Page School has children crossing that intersection morning and afternoon.
Sunday mornings LA Police have ez pickings at that intersection, but it is a deadly accident waiting to happen.
Agree Rob! I wouldn’t mind an officer stationed there. Most people roll right through.
It’s insane that Larchmont is a four lane street at all. The street only runs a mile or so and already only has two lanes between Beverly and 1st. It should be two lanes with bike lanes and a middle turn lane. Safer for pedestrians and drivers, better for families riding bikes to Larchmont Village. LADOT claims to be putting in easy to justify bike lanes, why hasn’t anyone there noticed this?