Mt. Vernon Road-Hwy. 13 junction to get stoplights next summer

The city, county, and state are working on an agreement to erect stoplights at the Mount Vernon Road – Highway 13 intersection, with the work tentatively set for next summer, said Linn County Engineer Steve Gannon.

“There are lots of folks who think we ought to move faster, but engineers, and traffic engineers in particular, think there should be reasons why we do what we do,” Gannon said this afternoon.

The state doesn't want responsibility for the work because it doesn't address a safety issue. Gannon said the present four-way stop is safer than a stoplight.

“The state's reluctant, that's why they throw it onto us,” he said. “The state doesn't want to be on the hook for a local light bill and they don't want to maintain it.”

Gannon said the county and state have won a federal grant for the project, which he estimated will cost about $500,000. The funds will become available at the start of the new federal fiscal year Oct. 1, allowing design work to proceed over the winter.

The county's share of the project should be about $100,000, Gannon said. Negotiations are underway on an agreement to have Cedar Rapids maintain the lights – the county doesn't stock the spare parts.

"Essentially we're building this for the state, with the expectation the city of Cedar Rapids is coming our way” as the city grows, Gannon said.

The state Department of Transportation conducted a traffic study of the intersection which recommended either stoplights or a roundabout. Gannon said the stoplights are about $300,000 cheaper.

Gannon said right-turn lanes will likely be added with the stoplights.