March 19, 2024

Council passes second consideration of traffic safety ordinances

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