Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

July 26, 2002

Pedestrian safety behind road changes

by Anne Krapfl
Work on a section of Wallace Road in the next few weeks will convert vehicle traffic from four lanes to two, with a third, center lane used for left turn lanes and islands. The remaining roadway will be used for right turn lanes and bus stop areas. The part of east campus' Wallace Road to be affected lies between Lincoln Way (Maple-Willow-Larch area) and Union Drive (Hamilton Hall area). The work primarily will be painting and striping on the road surface. Traffic lanes will close temporarily, but planners hope to keep short-term road closures to a minimum.

The change is a response to student's safety concerns at the Maple-Willow-Larch crossing and is intended to improve pedestrian safety, particularly at that location and in front of the Lied Center, according to ISU landscape architect Rick Fox. He said crossing two lanes of traffic is safer than crossing four, especially when a center island provides a "safety zone" for pedestrians.

Traffic analysis, vehicle counts and recommendations from consultants have determined that the volume of traffic on Wallace Road doesn't require four traffic lanes, Fox said.

While most of the work involves street striping and painting, at the Wallace Road crossing in front of Maple-Willow-Larch, crews will extend the curbs, narrowing the street in that area.

Fox said campus planners would assess the effectiveness of the changes over several years. Permanent, curbed islands may be installed in the future, but no funds have been targeted for that at this time.

The re-striping work is expected to begin the week of July 29. Before it begins, crews will reverse the one-way flow of traffic in Richardson Court. When the work is completed, cars will enter at the north drive to Richardson Court (near Oak and Elm halls) and exit at the south end (near Linden Hall). Again, the change is intended to improve pedestrian safety and avoid the likelihood of vehicles backed up to Lincoln Way when a lead car is waiting to turn left into Richardson Court.

Questions about the road project may be directed to Fox, 4-9612.