Proposed Turn Lane Controversial

The Public Works Department is recommending the city put in a center turn lane on Third Avenue and eliminate on-street parking there.

The Police Department disagrees.

The two city departments studied the number of traffic accidents on Third Avenue at the behest of the City Council. They split the street in two parts for studying: the section west of the city shop - which has curbs and gravel shoulders - and the section east of the city shop - which has on-street parking. Throughout the street, there are two lanes of travel.

West of the city shop, there were 16 accidents in the past five years, four of which would have been eliminated with a center turn lane, the report on their findings stated.

East of the city shop, there were 20 accidents over the past five years, three of which would have been eliminated with a center turn lane. Five accidents were due to cars parked along the side of the road.

“We feel that traffic is going to increase on Third Street over time and that we’d like to set the tone for what’s going to happen to Third in the future,” City Engineer Bill Melvin said. He recommended adding a center turn lane.

The Police Department, however, stated that removing on-street parking will only increase the speed of traffic and should remain.

At its Tuesday night meeting, the City Council decided to table any discussion on whether to create the lane until its May 5 meeting because members had not had enough time to examine the staff report.