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Downtown Olympia intersection closed after collision damaged traffic signal

The intersection of Capitol Way and Fourth Avenue currently is closed for repairs, the city of Olympia announced Monday.

Sarah Greene, the traffic operations supervisor for the Public Works Department, explained that a car crashed into a downtown Olympia intersection’s traffic signal pole.

The pole tipped over and landed on a nearby building. The vehicle also hit the signal box, attached to the pole, which disabled all four traffic lights.

Greene anticipates that repair crews, who are actively on site, will have repaired the signal pole within the next hour or two.

The intersection will flash red until the new signal box is fully operational. Greene reminded locals that a flashing red light should be treated as a four-way stop.

Detours are in place to guide motorists around the closure, but locals should expect delays and try to avoid the area.

This is a developing story.

A repair truck replaces a traffic pole following a collision early Monday morning at Capitol Way and Fourth Avenue, where a vehicle collided with a traffic signal pole and its box, disabling all four traffic lights in the intersection.
A repair truck replaces a traffic pole following a collision early Monday morning at Capitol Way and Fourth Avenue, where a vehicle collided with a traffic signal pole and its box, disabling all four traffic lights in the intersection. rboone@theolympian.com Rolf Boone

This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 11:14 AM.

Anna Hull
The Olympian
Anna Hull is The Olympian’s summer 2026 news reporting intern. Anna is entering her fourth year at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she is majoring in journalism. Anna also recently concluded her term as the News Editor for The Daily, the UW’s student newspaper. 
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