BROOKINGS – The intersection of 22nd Avenue South and 32nd Street South has been temporarily made into a four-way stop due to safety concerns from an increase in traffic resulting from ongoing roadwork elsewhere in town.
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BROOKINGS – The intersection of 22nd Avenue South and 32nd Street South has been temporarily made into a four-way stop due to safety concerns from an increase in traffic resulting from ongoing roadwork elsewhere in town.
It was previously a two-way stop, with stop signs placed on the north and south sides, with through traffic heading east/west. Safety considerations from the increased traffic were the primary factor in temporarily turning it into a four-way stop, Brookings City Engineer Jackie Lanning said.
The new stop signs on the 32nd Street South have a red flashing light placed on top to help attract motorists’ attention, and “Stop Ahead” warning signs topped with warning flags have been placed ahead of them.
Officers even have been standing beside the new stop signs to verbally inform drivers as they stop about the new situation, but some still nearly drove through the intersection without stopping Tuesday.
This is only a temporary measure for the time being and will only remain up until Sixth Street/U.S. Highway 14 is reopened on the east side of Brookings.
“We had a lot of safety concerns out there and as we were out there. Many drivers were telling the deputies that they’re glad the signs are there. We’re just trying to make that intersection safer,” Sheriff Marty Stanwick said.
The intersection causes confusion with drivers, Stanwick said.
“Some of the issues they were having was that they were stopping and proceeding forward thinking the other cars were going to stop, but then they didn’t because they had the right of way.”
And more traffic through that intersection has led to more opportunities for confusion, as well as accidents. In about one month’s time, there have been two accidents at that intersection, most recently on June 19, although that involved a driver driving past the existing stop sign altogether.
“But for now at least, we’ll give it attention for a few days until people start getting used to it,” Stanwick said.
He also recommended that drivers who stop at that intersection don’t assume that others will pull to a stop, urging caution instead.
This has been a joint city-county effort since the intersection borders the Brookings city limits. A traffic study will be done to determine if the signs warrant being made permanent, Lanning said.
Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.
