Spencer, IA (KICD)– The City of Spencer is continuing to work through plans on how to improve traffic flow and safety portions of Highway 71 on the south end of town.

Representatives from Bolten and Menk met with the City Council on Monday to discuss findings of a traffic study that could potentially change the layout of a series of intersections known to be issues based on crash data that Traffic Engineer Jennifer McCoy calls above average.

Traffic Director Chris Albrecht noted one of the main things that can be done to improve safety in the area the entrance to Menards to McDonalds is changing road markings to avoid having shared lanes between turning and straight -through traffic.

The study found the intersection by McDonalds and Arbys would not be a good fit for a traffic signal because that would put four signals in less than a mile which is more than the Iowa Department of Transportation would like to see a section of road like that. There was some brief discussion of potentially moving the light at the main entrance to the Southpark Mall further east, but City Manager Dan Gifford noted that may hurt future development plans.

Overall consensus from the council seemed to lean toward taking a little more of a stepped approach starting with changing some lane markings and increasing visibility at some stop signs while continuing to research more long term options like traffic signals, roundabouts and frontage roads.