Stewart & Barnett Intersection Updated to Support Safe Access

Published on December 23, 2025

Stewart-Barnett Changes.JPG

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the City of Medford modified the traffic pattern at the Stewart Avenue and Barnett Road intersection to safely support access to the new hotels opening just north of the intersection.

The center northbound lane on Stewart at Barnett changed from a second right‑turn lane to a through-only lane. All other lane assignments and signal timing remain consistent with prior operations.  Drivers will see updated lane‑use signs and pavement arrows clarifying the direction of travel for each lane.

Why Not Make the Center Lane a Shared Through/Right?

  • Changing the center lane to a combination through and right‑turn lane would give turning vehicles a green light and put them in conflict with people in the crosswalk on the east side of the intersection during the walk signal. The east side currently sees more pedestrian activity than the west side, and the new hotels are expected to increase foot traffic to nearby businesses.
  • A through‑only center lane reduces turning‑vehicle conflicts during the pedestrian walk signal and supports safer access to the hotels.
  • Traffic modeling has shown that the layout with the through-only lane will operate acceptably and meet City standards

The City will monitor hotel opening‑week traffic patterns and any needed signal fine‑tuning, queue lengths and travel times during peak hours, and pedestrian crossing activity and driver yielding. If monitoring identifies opportunities to improve clarity or operations, we’ll adjust signs, markings, and/or signal timing accordingly.

How to Navigate the New Layout

  1. Use the rightmost lane to turn right onto Barnett.
  2. Use the center lane to continue straight through the intersection into the hotel development.
  3. Follow all posted signs and new pavement markings-they reflect the lane changes.
  4. Watch for pedestrians and yield as required.

These changes are intended to keep everyone moving safely—whether you’re driving, walking, biking, or visiting the new hotels. Thank you for helping keep our streets safe for everyone.

For questions or feedback, please email pworkseng@cityofmedford.org or call 541‑774‑2100.

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