Othello plans to change intersection

OTHELLO - Othello may change the intersection of Scootney Street and Seventh Avenue in an effort to improve safety.

Engineering firm Gray and Osborne and Police Chief Steve Dunnagan are suggesting making the intersection a four-way stop, eliminating a turn lane and one lane without a stop sign. Dunnagan presented the results from the report during a recent city council meeting.

The city approved the study following a resident's concerns about the intersection. It is near McFarland Middle School and Lutacaga Elementary School. It presently has three stop signs, two along Seventh Avenue and one on Scootney Street, and has a right-hand turn lane on Seventh Avenue.

While traffic in the intersection coming from Scootney Street into the intersection used to be light, the addition of developments, schools and a church added traffic, Dunnagan said.

"The intersection of Scootney and Seventh has become a major intersection," he said. "There is a lot of pedestrian traffic because we're filtering kids through two schools ... So the intersection is not quite as pedestrian traffic friendly as it used to be, so we need to consider changing that."

Dunnagan, along with the public works director and Gray and Osborne believed the best way to improve the intersection is making it a four-way stop and eliminate an uncontrolled right-hand turn lane.

"The understanding was that the intersection had free traffic movement for people who were heading uphill because in the winter time we were worried about them sliding down," he said. "You know, we have other hills and I think that (Public Works Director) Terry (Clements) and his crew and technology has improved well enough that really is not an issue anymore."

The change will cost the city because it will require removing an island. Dunnagan didn't have the cost available at the meeting, he said. Taking out the island will make removing snow more efficient.

"(It will) make public safety improve there because we have a lot of people who like to hit that island," he said. "I can't imagine it will cost a whole lot of money."

Councilmember Ken Caylor said the proposed change is long overdue.

"I know we've had complaint about, 'Oh I can't stop going up that hill,' but I think we're out here in flat country, I think we really go to see some towns that really have some hills," he said. "I don't think that should be an issue. I think you're right. I think it should be a four-way stop."