Pelican looks at safety concern at intersection

The Pelican town board approved a feasibility study for the intersection of Faust Lake Road and Old Highway 8 during a meeting on Nov. 3. This intersection, according to town chair Nick Scholtes, has caused some safety concerns. Currently, the intersection has two wings that come off of it, with a pie shaped piece of land in the middle of it.

“Because of the geometrics of if, you’ve got an elevation that you’re coming off of if you’re going to go toward 17,” Scholtes said. “You’re diving off of a hill and coming into a big radius curve.” Drivers on the other side, he said, come up to a stop sign that does not provide a good sight path. This necessitates drivers inching into the intersection, where a potentially fast-moving vehicle coming through the intersection from the other direction could cause a safety issue.

The board decided it was time to hire a firm to conduct a feasibility study. The idea would be to create a “T” intersection, which would provide a better sight line for drivers in all directions.

Scholtes said the next town board meeting, scheduled for 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 would be followed by the town’s budget meeting as well. An item on the agenda, that of a possible wake boat ordinance, he said, would likely bring a good number of people to the regular board meeting. He hoped town residents would stay for the budget hearing, as well.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].