The Department of Transportation finished its restructure of the Chick-A-Dee section of Route 4 in Turner Friday. It’s a decidedly different traffic pattern for the developing business district there, and one that seems to have stumped motorists over the past several days as they’ve funneled into fewer travel lanes.

The section, where motorists tend to zoom much faster than the posted speed limit, is being trimmed from four lanes down to two, with a center turning lane. That turning lane, which appears a bit wider than what might be needed, is designed as a refuge for people making left turns.

Business owners and police hope the change will slow the flow of traffic. We sincerely hope they’re right. This is a high-traffic, accident-prone section of road that could use more control.

On Thursday morning, state troopers were monitoring traffic and writing tickets for motorists speeding through the section and ignoring the new traffic pattern. It’ll take a little time for the folks who regularly travel that road to get used to the change, but there is evidence that similar changes made to roads in Seattle have reduced accidents and slowed traffic.

Although the potential safety gain is great, there is some loss here.

The realignment has all but eliminated the breakdown lanes where the new turning lane has been constructed. It narrows the outer edges to an unsafe width for cyclists, walkers and anyone who is having mechanical trouble.

DOT is scheduled to start work on the shoulders next week. Since the entire project was launched to improve safety, we urge engineers to ensure there is sufficient shoulder room. That means planners must consider that a car may be idling in the turning lane, tractor trailers are passing on each side and cyclists are using both shoulders at any moment in time.

This section of Route 4 has seen a real increase in business investment, in motorists and in cyclists. Before the road’s restructure the shoulders were roomy and safe. They should be made the same again.