NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council is exploring all of its options regarding the 30th and Lucille intersection after Tuesday's meeting.
"If we're going to do a full look at the intersection and traffic signals, there is a third option, with all of the upgrades that are going to be required there, there is a third option that actually was talked about as probably being the most safe for this location, and that's a roundabout," said Jeff Schenk with Engineering. "It is very similar to the Woodie Seat and Avenue A intersection. There's a lot of left turn movements from both directions, which means that the roundabout can fully be functioning at all times with keeping people moving. It may be a more viable option and long-term it is significantly less expensive."
The council asked for specific numbers on what a permanent stoplight would take, as well. It will take Schenk some time to get that information together.
"I just need to know the proper queue lengths and stuff like that," Schenk said. "It's going to take me a little bit of time to gather that data. I can say, maybe by the second meeting in January. There's a reinforced concrete box that we're going to have to lengthen and all kinds of stuff."
Also, as soon as possible, the city is going to put in one of those signs that tells you how fast you are going, they are called radar speed signs, it will be placed as you come into town and the speed zone drops from 55 to 45 on 30th.
"Right now, all materials are backlogged," Schenk said. "We can go ahead and put in a requisition and start getting those ordered. I don't know the timeline that they will come in, but as soon as possible, we can get those in and installed."
The speed studies done throughout the fall clearly showed that when the temporary signs telling people to slow down were up, they did that, and speeds went back up when the signs went away.
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