An intersection on one on Washington's busiest roads will be safer for pedestrians with the installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons with overhead lights.
The Washington City Council on Monday approved spending up to $30,000 for the purchase and installation of the beacons at the intersection of Dallas Road and Westminster Drive. The low bidder was Laser Electric of Peoria.
City Engineer Dennis Carr said the city was first made aware of a pedestrian safety problem in the intersection several months ago.
"We've had parents and children come in and speak about it," he said. "Largely, the issue we have is there's a little bit of a failure for traffic to stop [at the crosswalk] when pedestrians are there."
With a daily average of about 2,500 vehicles per day, Dallas ranks among the 10 highest volume roads in the city, not counting those overseen by the Illinois Department of Transportation [IDOT].
Dallas offers a direct connection to U.S. Route 24 as a result of the recent realignment of Nofsinger Road. The speed limit on Dallas is 30 miles per hour.
Alderperson Brandon Moss said he appreciates the city staff moving quickly to address the intersection problem.
"This is an unexpected consequence of Dallas being extended to [Route] 24," he said. "It created more of a throughway than it once was."
Carr said overhead lights are needed on the solar-powered beacons because only the east side of the intersection has street lights.
Sign will help relieve 'quagmire'
Another pedestrian and traffic issue was addressed recently thanks to comments made during Mayor Lilija Stevens' monthly "Let's Talk Washington" informal discussion session Feb. 24.
Stevens reported Monday that the main topic of conversation at the American Legion Post 100 hall was the intersection of Eagle Avenue and West Jefferson Street.
"That intersection can be a bit of a quagmire at dropoff and pickup time for school, and a 'Cross traffic does not stop' sign under the stop sign was missing," she said. "The sign is back up now, thanks our public works department."
The intersection is near Central Intermediate School and Central Primary School.
The next "Let's Talk Washington" session will be at 11 a.m. March 14 at the Walker-Danforth Post 9016 Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW] hall at 300 Zinser Place. Alderperson Michael Ernst will attend the session.
Repaving approved for six roads in project site
Another $175,000 has been added to a nearly $3.4 million drainage project near Washington's downtown square to complete the repaving of six roads impacted by the excavation.
Council on Monday approved a change order to mill and overlay half of:
- High Street from Holland Street to Catherine Street.
- Holland Street from High Street to Pine Street.
- Pine Street from Holland Street to Catherine Street.
- Church Street from Eldridge Street to Catherine Street.
- Eldridge Street from Church Street to Cedar Street.
- Spruce Street from Eldridge Street to Catherine Street.
"This repaving will create a consistent roadway surface and improve overall pavement conditions," said Carr, who assured alderpersons there are funds in the streets budget to cover the cost of the work.
Catherine Street project enters final phase
A contract for the third and final phase of the Catherine Street reconstruction project has been awarded.
The council approved Stark Excavating's low bid of slightly more than $1.5 million. The Bloomington-based company did the first two phases of the project.
The third phase, which came in under the estimated cost of nearly $1.8 million, is from Spruce Street to Vine Street.
It includes changing the road surface from brick to asphalt, and watermain, sanitary sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalk and sump drain lines work.
