Stillwater to Upgrade Downtown Roundabout After Repeated Crashes

The City of Stillwater will install new lighting and reconstruct the central wall at the downtown roundabout as part of safety improvements expected to increase visibility and driver awareness, officials said Thursday.

The Transportation Project Advisory Committee discussed plans for the roundabout enhancements during its Oct. 23 meeting, along with two emergency road repair projects scheduled to go out for bid in early November. The committee makes recommendations to the Stillwater City Council on transportation sales tax projects.

Director of Engineering Bill Millis said the roundabout improvements will include embedded solar lights in the center island, upgraded street lights at each corner, wall reconstruction with integrated lighting, and improved signage and striping on approach lanes.

"We're looking at embedding lights in the center island or solar lights that stick up just a little bit to increase the visibility and the intuitiveness of what you're expected to do once you get there," Millis said.

The Transportation Project Advisory Committee discussed safety improvements for the roundabout at 10th Avenue and Main Street during its Oct. 23 meeting. The $40,000 structure has been struck at least twice in 2021, twice in 2023 and most recently in February. – Photos by Chris Peters

City Manager Brady Moore noted the intersection currently lacks adequate lighting infrastructure.

"Surprisingly we don't have big tall [street] lights there at each of the corners, so we're going to be adding those as well," Moore said.

The roundabout at 10th Avenue and Main Street, which features a bronco buster statue, was installed in 2015 for $40,000. The structure has been struck by drivers multiple times over the years, including at least twice in 2021, twice in 2023 and most recently in February when a driver demolished the decorative walls, damaged the electrical system and water feature.

Related

VIDEO: Downtown Roundabout Demolished Again

The structure has been struck by drivers five times in the last four years

THE STILLWEGIANChris Peters

City officials said the improvements aim to address visibility issues that have contributed to the repeated collisions.

Millis also said the city is looking at replacing the four-way flashing red lights at Main Street intersections with stop signs that fit the downtown decor. The signals at Seventh, Eighth and Ninth streets were converted to flashing red earlier this year as part of efforts to create a more pedestrian-friendly downtown environment.

The city will bring more detailed plans to a future committee meeting, officials said.

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Emergency repairs scheduled for stormwater infrastructure

Two storm sewer improvement projects totaling an estimated $212,000 are scheduled to open for bids Nov. 5, Millis told committee members.

One location near West 5th Avenue and South Orchard Street in the Westwood neighborhood addresses a collapsed side drainage structure, though the failure is not directly beneath the roadway.

A collapsed sidewalk and drainage structure in the Westwood neighborhood near West 5th Avenue and South Orchard Street is one of two emergency storm sewer repair projects. – Photos by Chris Peters

The second project in the East Villa mobile home park on the east side of Stillwater involves a road/sidewalk that is collapsing over a deteriorating culvert, creating hazards for both the street surface and adjacent sidewalks.

The road and sidewalk are collapsing over a deteriorating culvert in the East Villa mobile home park. The city will accept bids Nov. 5 for repairs to this site and another collapsed drainage structure in the Westwood neighborhood. – Photos by Chris Peters

"One of them is the road is starting to collapse over the culvert, and so there's some sidewalks on the street and the culverts under the road," Millis said. "The other one is a kind of a side drain. It's draining storm drains, but at the location where it has collapsed is not actually under the street."

The city expects to award contracts and begin work following the bid opening.

Perkins intersection plans continue

City officials continue negotiations with developers over improvements to the Perkins Road and Airport Road intersection, which will require signalization rather than a roundabout due to cost concerns.

Moore said Google, which is building data centers in the area, and The Hub, an entertainment venue being developed by the Tonkawa Tribe, both triggered the need for intersection improvements in their respective traffic studies.

"Their study actually said that each traffic study triggered the need for those improvements, so they're going to work together," Moore said. "We actually exchanged emails today to try to connect them."

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation had suggested a roundabout for the intersection, but engineers determined that option would cost approximately three times more than signalization due to existing infrastructure constraints, officials said.

Other projects progress

The committee also received updates on several ongoing transportation projects:

The Monticello Street reconstruction from University Avenue to Admiral Street is proceeding northward from Orchard Street, with completion expected in December. The project includes full-depth reconstruction and utility work, with all underground utility installations complete and the University Avenue intersection finished.

The Block 34 infrastructure improvements project between Eighth and Ninth avenues and Duncan and Husband streets reached substantial completion in July and is undergoing final corrections before an expected October completion.

Work on McElroy Road from Main Street to Jardot, Manning Street from McElroy to Sunrise, and Hall of Fame Avenue from Washington to Knoblock is nearing completion, with striping on McElroy expected to finish by Oct. 31.