A long-delayed safety project at 4th Street and New Hampshire Avenue in Koreatown is finally moving forward as LA begins installing a new crosswalk and rotary at the intersection. The city had postponed the project for more than a decade, even after securing funding, despite earlier coverage in this paper on August 8.
According to Streetsblog LA, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will begin installing official safety features at the intersection starting on the 13th. LADOT plans to complete the interim rotary and new crosswalks by this weekend.
Colin Sweeney, spokesperson for LADOT, said, “We will reorganize the intersection with bollards, paint, and signs,” adding, “The interim rotary will remain in place until construction on the permanent rotary begins.” The permanent rotary is scheduled to break ground in 2026.
The site is where Nadir Gabarrete (9) was killed in a traffic collision in July. Residents had pushed the city to install a rotary even before the crash, but the project was repeatedly delayed despite the availability of funds. After the accident, the traffic-safety group Crosswalk Collective LA and residents criticized the city’s slow response and painted an unsanctioned crosswalk without approval.
The intersection is one of the busiest in Koreatown and has long been noted for its steep roadway and limited visibility, factors that increase crash risk. While the interim rotary is expected to improve safety, frustrations remain over the city’s years-long delay.
Residents can review the rotary design, proposed safety changes, and submit feedback through an online survey on the LADOT website (ladot.lacity.gov/4thstreet).
Both rotaries and roundabouts feature a central circular structure, but their right-of-way rules differ. Roundabouts give priority to vehicles already inside the circle, while rotaries give priority to entering vehicles. Accurate understanding of these rules is essential because they affect collision risk.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
