Mary Huff, Minot

Per Oct. 22 Minot Daily, “Four-way stop proposed.”

This article revealed neither Council nor engineers have bothered to park on one of these corners, side streets, or alleys during high traffic times. Here’s a simple breakdown showing why traffic lights are needed and a considered “mini-round-about” is a terrible idea.

–11th Avenue SW is a designated “Emergency Snow Route.”

–Since August, your 4-way stop has impeded and prevented Trinity Ambulance from accessing center lanes due to orange barrels and blockades.

–Early morning hours, semis with long trailers drive up the hill on 11th Avenue SW, heading to Broadway for delivery to grocers, restaurants, and other businesses. How could they possibly maneuver a mini round-about?

–6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – on 11th Avenue is constant flow of work traffic plus city and school buses.

–7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – With traffic lights, buses and parents dropping off their children for school only caused vehicles to back up to 5th St. SW. Your current red stop lights have slowed traffic to as far back as Park St. and sometimes Scandia Park!

–2:45 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. – parents and buses are lined to pick up children. Both 111th Avenue and 6th St. SW are packed.

–Friday afternoons, evenings, and weekends – sports activities at football field and high school. Additional traffic contains out-of-town buses and family, both coming and going.

–City snowplows, dump trucks, and their loaders cannot make a mini round-about!

–There are 7 residents with driveways needing access onto 11th Avenue. Also, there are 3 alleys with many residents who need garage access. Streets affected by backed up traffic are Park Street, 5th St. SW (south side of 11th Ave.), 5th St. SW (north side of 11th), 6th St. SW, 7th St. SW, and 8th St. SW (at 1st District Health), plus Jim Hill School.

You’ve sat on this info since August. These current non-working traffic lights are used 1989 2nd-hand Bismarck junk! How long did City expect them to last? We find your various price quotes on purchase of traffic lights to contradict themselves. FYI: average lights are timed to hold traffic for 30 to 45 seconds, after which 5 to 7 cars can quickly pass through.

We pay our City and Property Tax. Please do the proper job that we voted you into office for. Return traffic lights to 11th Avenue SW at 6th Street SW, and make our neighborhood safe again.