Commentary; Posted: 5/1/02

Patience wears thin at US-61 and 8

Cliff Buchan

Patience is highly touted as a virtue but when it comes to the intersection of US-8 and US-61 on Forest Lakeís north side, it is wearing thin.

This intersection has been a sore spot for some years and a place where cars crashed, all too often. There have been many serious vehicle accidents and one recent death. After public complaints, the Minnesota Department of Transportation put up stop signs on north and southbound US-61 this winter.

It was well intended as a measure to prevent traffic mishaps, but to date, it hasnít been successful. A spate of vehicle crashes at the intersection this spring have public safety officials expressing concern.

The ultimate solution, of course, will be signal lights for this stretch of highway which is seeing more and more traffic. And here again patience is needed.

According to state officials, some $1.8 million will be invested by MnDOT in this intersection. Thatís the positive.

The negative is that the work likely wonít take place until 2005. There may be ways to accelerate the construction schedule, but this project stands in line with many other projects that need to be done, as well.

All too often Forest Lake is dropped from the Highway 8 Task Force planning considerations. Road improvements are needed desperately along US-8 and the stretch of US-8 in Chisago County needs to be addressed.

Planners, however, should continue to look at this most southern tip of US-8 and include it in the overall planning. The US-8 exit at US-61 is an important part of this whole mix that needs attention.

For the short term, steps are being planned that should help improve safety at this intersection.

At the urging of local Minnesota State Patrol troopers, MnDOT is considering the following improvements. They would include:

ïRumble strips on US-61, north and south, prior to the stop signs.

ïFlashing warning lights on informational signs that tell motorists of the traffic change and possibly moving the signs closer to the stop sign locations.

ïOversized stop signs.

ïPainted markings on the road surface indicating stop ahead.

The problems are in no way the total fault of the intersection. Driver habits and getting through the adjustment period to the stop signs are key factors in why accidents are increasing at this intersection.

Most of the problems are involving US-61 vehicles which are not stopping. Traffic leaving US-8 has long been required to stop at US-61. State troopers also encourage US-8 drivers to exercise more caution.

The fact north and south bound vehicles on US-61 are required to stop does not guarantee they will stop. Use the old look twice method and cross slowly into the US-61 roadway when leaving US-8.

After coming to a complete stop, move forward checking both north and south directions a second time. If necessary to make sure traffic is stopping, stop your vehicle a second time.

Donít trust the other guy to stop, plain and simple.

These are simple things but sometimes the smallest steps can help achieve better conditions. But they are things we can all do.

Such steps do require patience and staying alert when behind the wheel, however, and in that regard we owe it to ourselves, anyone riding in our vehicle and our fellow drivers to slow down a bit and give the intersection a chance to work as it should.

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