Old Redwood Highway at Lakewood Drive Class IV Bicycle Lane Pilot Program

Project Overview

The Town of Windsor is launching a pilot program to evaluate safety and traffic operations at the intersection of Old Redwood Highway and Lakewood Drive. As part of the pilot, delineators will be installed along the westbound approach of Old Redwood Highway to discourage vehicles from entering the bicycle lane when making right turns.

The goal is to improve safety and create more predictable traffic movements near the intersection. The pilot will also monitor peak-hour traffic conditions to help determine whether these changes should be included in a future capital improvement project.

Project Description

The intersection of Old Redwood Highway and Lakewood Drive is one of Windsor's busiest, serving regional traffic as well as access to nearby neighborhoods, schools, and commercial areas.

The westbound approach of Old Redwood Highway has two lanes, with the outside lane serving both through and right-turn movements. Because there is no dedicated right-turn lane, vehicles often queue in the right turn lane during peak hours. As congestion builds, some drivers enter the bicycle lane early to bypass traffic and position for a turn.

Although California law allows vehicles to enter a bicycle lane within 200 feet of an intersection when preparing to turn right (after yielding to bicyclists), observations show that drivers frequently merge earlier than intended. This reduces space for bicyclists and leads to weaving, late merging, and close interactions near the intersection. While reported collisions are limited, observations from the Windsor Police Department indicate that near-conflicts and minor incidents occur more frequently than crash data suggests.

To address these issue, the pilot will install delineators along the westbound approach to better define the bicycle lane and discourage vehicle encroachment. Additional improvements include updated striping, "Yield to Bikes" signage, and relocation of a bus stop. The goal is to improve safety and create more predictable movements for all users.

To evaluate effectiveness, near-collision data will be collected for two weeks before and two weeks after installation during the school year. This data captures observable conflict events such as abrupt braking, evasive maneuvers, and bicycle-vehicle interactions that are not reflected in standard collision reports, providing a more complete picture of safety conditions.

This effort is also being coordinated with the planned Downtown Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing of US 101 project, where similar treatments are under consideration. Findings from the pilot will help determine whether delineators are suitable for long-term use or if alternative designs should be explored.

Milestone Level Project Schedule

Collect data before treatment installation: April 26 - May 9, 2026
Install pilot program improvements: June 15, 2026
Collect data after treatment installation: September 20 - October 3, 2026
Analyze data and review public feedback: November 2026

Public Feedback

Public input is an important part of this pilot program, and the Town appreciates everyone who took the time to share their input. The public feedback collection period closed on October 29, 2026. The Town will use the feedback received to help evaluate how the changes are working for people traveling through the intersection, whether driving, biking, walking, or wheeling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the purpose of the pilot program?

A: The pilot program will evaluate whether installing delineators to separate the westbound bicycle lane on Old Redwood Highway improves safety and reduces conflicts. It will also assess operational effects such as vehicle queueing, delay, and overall traffic flow at the intersection.

Q2: Will traffic be impacted during the pilot?

A: The pilot program may change how drivers position themselves near the intersection. Motorists will no longer be able to use the bicycle lane to queue or position for right turns onto Lakewood Drive, which may result in some delays. These impacts will be monitored as part of the study. If delays or queueing increase substantially, that would indicate the need to reconsider the treatment as part of the final analysis. Other parts of the intersection are not expected to be significantly affected.

Q3: Why not build a permanent solution immediately?

A: Permanent solutions are already being considered as part of the Downtown Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing of US 101 project. However, recent safety and operational concerns at this intersection warrant further evaluation. The pilot will provide data-driven insights to determine whether these types of improvements will function effectively for all roadway users before committing to a permanent design.

Q4: How will safety be measured?

A: Safety will be evaluated using before-and-after video analysis and traffic conflict observation. Because many near-collision events are not captured in traditional crash data, the study will focus on observable indicators such as abrupt braking, evasive maneuvers, bicycle–vehicle interactions, and encroachments into the bicycle lane. These observations will be compared before and after installation of the delineators to assess changes in the frequency and severity of conflicts, along with any available collision data.

Q5: How is video data used and protected during this study?

A: Video is used solely for traffic behavior analysis and is stored securely with restricted access. It is processed by Quality Counts using encrypted systems and limited access controls to observe traffic movements and interactions at the intersection. The video equipment is also configured to avoid capturing identifiable information such as faces, license plates, and other personal details.