Council revisits Highway 25 lane conversion

It’s been two years since Creston City Council first discussed the conversion of Highway 25 from four to three lanes and Public Works Director Greg Maggard told the council Tuesday he was asked to revisit the idea. He did not specify who.

Maggard said a 2019 study conduct by Snyder & Associates looked at traffic patterns, volume, accidents and other safety issues.

“What came out of that was a recommendation to move from a four lane configuration to a three-lane configuration,” Maggard said.

The conversion would reduce Highway 25, or Sumner Avenue – from West Adams to West Townline streets – from two north bound and two south bound lanes to one north and south bound lane each and one center turning lane. This plan would also remove the flashing red light at the three-way intersection and entrance to True Value.

Bethany Waltersdorf from the Iowa Department of Transportation was in attendance of Tuesday’s meeting to answer any questions.

“They are all for it,” said Maggard. “They (DOT) would do this themselves. Essentially it’s either a restriping with little or no light configuration changing, other than taking a light out.”

Maggard said the IDOT is on board with the project, but wanted buy in from the community.

Waltersdorf said the proposed center turn lane would be 16-foot wide.

“That’s to allow people to come in at angles and not get stuck hanging out when they’re trying to get in to the center turn,” she said.

The two north and south bound lanes would each be 12-foot wide.

“Your extra space would be gutter and shoulder.

Waltersdorf said the traffic light at North Sumner and West Townline would become an all-way stop, which she pointed out was less cost to the city to operate.

Maggard said, according to a 1977 agreement between the city and the DOT, the light isn’t operating as stated in the agreement – as a traditional traffic light that turns red, yellow, green traffic light. It only flashes red.

“It either needs to function properly or go away,” Maggard said. “And this is going to go away on their dime.”

The Highway 25 corridor this agreement would affect is rated a “B,” which Maggard said isn’t the worst, but isn’t the best.

The plan does not address safety measures for pedestrians, but the four- to three-lane conversion is to create a safer driving environment. The three-lane is said to slow the flow of traffic and offer a designated turn lane to reduce the instances of rear-end crashes.

Concerns about backing in to on coming traffic, flow of traffic, designated green lights, traffic light sensors, lighting at intersection, and necessity were brought up. At-Large Representative Kiki Scarberry expressed concern about line of sight for those turning left from Sumner. Rich Madison, also At-large, pointed out a three-lane conversion improves that as it places drivers more to the left as they turn.

Waltersdorf said there is possibly some Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds available, but the process is a couple of years out.

Ward 3 Representative Matt Levine said he would like the council to look more in to the matter and Madison agreed.

“I as well,” said Madison. “Mainly for safety reasons.”

Mayor Gabe Carroll asked if there was a solution for the issue of residents backing out on to Sumner.

“We have instituted this in several different towns and it’s a concern when people initially get it instituted,” said Waltersdorf. “We haven’t had any complaints since.

Waltersdorf said the four- to three-lane conversion has been instituted in Perry and Atlantic in recent years without any issues.

“It’s through high, high business area in Atlantic and in Perry it’s through a main traffic corridor with multiple businesses and out into residential, as well.”

Scarberry asked if Creston’s traffic is on the same scale as Atlantic and Perry. Madison said, from the report, Creston’s is on the low side.

“So why are we trying to fix something that is not broke?” asked Dean Schulte, a Creston resident.

Ward 5 Representative Steve Wintermute asked Waltersdorf why the Iowa DOT is interested in the project. She explained that the city had approached the IDOT years prior and that is why the study was done.

Wintermute asked if the study was done because of a high amount of accidents, to which Waltersdorf said, “No.”

“My worry is, are we being preemptive to something and are we over-thinking the problem?” asked Scarberry. “Are we over-thinking something that is not really a big issue?”

The topic of a four- to three-lane conversion will appear on the council’s Feb. 8 agenda. No action was taken.