The city will be counting cars on Fifth Street and Fifth Avenue SE to determine the best plan for traffic.
Trevor Prokopetz wrote to council in December regarding the Fifth and Fifth intersection.
“The intersection in question is approximately 40 feet from our property and has seen an exponential increase in traffic volume.
This has made entering and exiting our property, and for others on 5th Avenue SE, very dangerous. Even more so now that the lower section of 10th Avenue SE (Shoemaker Hill) is closed for winter as usual,” he stated.
He went on to say that at peak traffic volumes there are about 500 to 800 vehicles per hour. He suggested turning the intersection into a three-way stop, which would give residents a chance to exit their driveways safely.
At council’s Jan. 16 meeting, Coun. Ken Jamieson said although he could be wrong, he doesn’t think the numbers of vehicles is that high. He asked if a count could be done.
City engineer Jenn Wilson said the most vehicles counted on a similar intersection were 1,500 per day, but the city’s traffic safety committee will do a count and will look into Prokopetz’ letter.
Wilson noted the committee discussed the same intersection in December regarding traffic on 5th Avenue turning northbound onto 5th Street.
Then, poor visibility was causing safety concerns to the north, due to vehicles parked on the west side of 5th Street, and to the south due to vegetation.
The committee recommended posting ‘no parking’ signs north of 5th Avenue on the west side of 5th Street to the first driveway, and to trim back vegetation within the boulevard south of 5th Avenue on the west side of 5th Street.