The Newton City Council passed the second consideration of two ordinances to improve traffic safety in town. The two ordinances will add stop signs at 65 intersections and remove four yield signs to replace them with stop signs.
Newton Public Works Director Keith Laube gave a presentation on the Traffic Committee’s findings. Councilor Noreen Otto showed her excitement and reminded the council about the history of the issue.
“After the presentations done by Keith on this issue,” Otto said. “It’s one of the things that once someone points it to you, you begin to see it everywhere, which makes me glad we’re taking action on this issue.”
“In a previous council meeting, we had a young woman come in and tell about her very serious accident due to an uncontrolled intersection,” Otto continued.
Councilor Evelyn George voiced a concern of a local resident in favor of the issue.
“I heard from a local resident that his concern was that his intersection was not included on the list to get a stop sign,” George said.
Newton Mayor Mike Hansen has had experiences with the uncontrolled intersections with a family member behind the wheel.
“You are so right on this,” Hansen said. “I now have a grandson that has his driving permit and I got to drive around with him at different intersections, which it’s amazing to see how many uncontrolled intersections we have around.”
Yield signs will be removed at the following intersections:
South Fourth Avenue East and South Fifth Avenue East;
Monroe Drive and West 11th Street South, eastbound only;
South 24th Avenue West and West 15th Street South, eastbound only; and
East 23rd Street North and North Fifth Avenue East.
The new stop signs will be added to the following intersections:
Streets, Northeast Quadrant
East 71⁄2 Street North and North Sixth Avenue East
East Ninth Street North and North Sixth Avenue East
East Ninth Street North and North 11th Avenue East
East 10th Street North and North 11th Avenue East
East 12th Street North and North 11th Avenue East
East 23rd Street North and North Fifth Avenue East
Streets, Southeast Quadrant
East Third Street South and South Fifth Avenue East
East 20th Street South and South Third Avenue East
East 21th Street Place South and South Eighth Avenue East
East 23rd Street South and South Eighth Avenue East
East 24th Street South and South Third Avenue East
East 24th Street South and South Fifth Avenue East
East 24th Street South and South Eighth Avenue East
East 25th Street South and South Eighth Avenue East
East 26th Street South and South Third Avenue East
East 26th Street South and East 25th Street Place South
East 26th Street South and East 27th Street South
Lincoln Street and Rusty Wallace Drive
Streets, Southwest Quadrant
West Sixth Street South and South 15th Avenue West
West Seventh Street South and South Second Avenue West
West Eighth Street South and South 17th Avenue West
West 10th Street South and South Second Avenue West
Avenues, Northeast Quadrant
North Second Avenue East and East Eighth Street North
North Fifth Avenue East and East 25th Street North
North Sixth Avenue East and East 23rd Street North
North Seventh Avenue East and East 23rd Street North
North Ninth Avenue East and East Seventh Street North
North Tenth Avenue East and East Seventh Street North
Avenues, Southeast Quadrant
South Third Avenue East and East 19th Street North
South Fourth Avenue East and South Fifth Avenue East
South Fifth Avenue East and East 25th Street South
South 10th Avenue East and East Eighth Street South
Avenues, Southwest Quadrant
Monroe Drive and West 11th Street South
South Second Avenue West and West 11th Street South
South Third Avenue West and West Eighth Street South
South Fourth Avenue West and West Eighth Street South
South Sixth Avenue West and West Ninth Street South
South Sixth Avenue West and West 11th Street South
South Seventh Avenue West and West Fourth Street South
South Seventh Avenue West and West Ninth Street South
South Seventh Avenue West and West 11th Street South
South Ninth Avenue West and West Fourth Street South
South Ninth Avenue West and West Sixth Street South
South 12th Avenue West and West Sixth Street South
South 13th Avenue West and West Sixth Street South
South 13th Avenue West and West 12th Street South
South 14th Avenue West and West Sixth Street South
South 14th Avenue West and West 12th Street South
South 15th Avenue West and West Seventh Street South
South 15th Avenue West and West 12th Street South
South 16th Avenue West and West 12th Street South
South 17th Avenue West and West Ninth Street South