Stopping traffic at a well-used rural intersection northeast of Great Bend is the safest thing to do, Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman told the County Commission Monday morning.

Commissioners approved a resolution calling for the placement of stop signs at the intersection of NE 40 Road and NE 10 Avenue in Great Bend Township. This is basically a three-way junction with NE 40 road stopping at NE 10 Avenue in a T since Cheyenne Bottoms public hunting area interrupts the westward path of 40 at that point.

Although 40 Road going west into the Bottoms property is not technically a public road, it sometimes get used as such, McManaman said. This is why he felt was safer to go ahead and place a sign on the public right-of-way to stop the traffic headed east anyway.

McManaman was contacted by township officials. “They felt like there was a severe sight restriction at the intersection of Northeast 40 Road and Northeast Avenue and they asked that I take a look at it.”

He visited the location and conducted a study. “I agree, there is definitely a sight distance restriction. This is due to the trees primarily in the northeast quadrant of the intersection,” he said. 

“We need to stop traffic in order to make it safe,” McManaman said. So, based on that, he recommended the installation. 

The signs will stop both east and westbound traffic, but allow north and southbound traffic be allowed to be put through movement without stopping.

He said he has not contacted the residents in the area, but township representatives whole heartedly endorse the idea.

“Is there anything being done about clearing the site?” Commissioner Jim Daily asked.

“That would be up to the township,” McManaman said. There is the option to clear some of the trees and there are some cedars hanging out over the right-of-way to some degree, but even if that were done, he said sight problems would remain.