MINOT – The Minot City Council voted Tuesday to reconfigure lanes on Fourth Avenue Northwest between North Broadway and 26th Street Northwest.
The engineering department proposed to change that area from a four lane to a three lane with bicycle lanes. The center lane would be a shared turning lane. Fourth Avenue is currently a two lane west of 26th Street Northwest.
“The purpose of this study and my recommendation is not bike lanes, it’s safety,” said Stephen Joersz, traffic engineer.
Joersz said in the years 2017 to 2021, there were 26 crashes in the intersection of Fourth Avenue Northwest and 16th Street Northwest, and 19 crashes at the intersection of Fourth Avenue Northwest 25th Street Northwest.
The City Council also voted on the first reading of an ordinance to restrict right-turns from South Broadway, southbound, onto Burdick Expressway West, so when the pedestrian pushbutton is pressed, right turn signals would turn red. This came after a recent crash earlier this year. City staff is considering replacing the intersection system completely. The system was installed in 1989.
In other business, the City Council approved budget amendments for sidewalk and bike path snow removal, including a $51,000 for priority sidewalks and bike paths, a list of which can be found here. Another budget amendment included $26,505 for citywide sidewalks, at 9 miles, and bike paths at 15 miles.
