(This is second in a two-part series about the U.S. 169 rebuild south of Iola. For part 1, see here.)
When the shortest distance between two points is closed, drivers will find creative alternatives.
The closing of U.S. 169 between Iola and Chanute to rebuild the highway has frustrated some local officials, forced to contend with drivers who veer onto county roads in their search for a shortcut from the official state detour. That official detour directs motorists on a horseshoe journey from U.S. 54 at Iola, U.S. 75 west to Yates Center and K-39 to Chanute.
But those who know the local byways or use GPS mapping programs often take county roads or Old 169 Highway through Humboldt. Mitch Garner, director of Public Works for Allen County, reported in February that traffic counts along the old highway have spiked 300 percent since construction began on U.S. 169, from 8,100 vehicles a week to nearly 23,000.
Humboldt has borne the brunt of the additional traffic, as state and local officials try to minimize the damage. City Manager Cole Herder said the increased traffic has increased anxiety and safety concerns, particularly for youth who may be walking or biking around the streets. Fortunately, few problems have been reported.
I really have to commend our community for the fact that we havent seen a real increase in serious accidents, Herder said.
The biggest problem is at the intersection of Ninth and Bridge streets in downtown Humboldt.
Herder said the old-fashioned stoplights at that intersection may be less familiar or less obvious to out-of-town drivers and seemed to have caught them by surprise.
To accommodate, large digital signs were installed to warn drivers they are approaching a stoplight.
To help slow traffic, the city set up a radar speed monitoring sign that alerts drivers if they are exceeding the speed limit heading into town. Temporary rumble strips were also placed on Ninth Street near the stoplights.
Even with these adjustments, city crews felt more needed to be done, so they changed the timing of the stoplights, increasing the overlap of red lights for motorists going north and south. Hopefully if someone blew through the stoplight, the other side hadnt started moving yet, Herder said.
Local residents also have been frustrated by the influx of motorists, especially semi-trailer drivers, who take side streets, get lost and are forced to turn around. Damage has occurred to signs and yards in those instances.
But citizens seem to understand, Herder said. Its human nature to want to find a shorter route and modern technology like GPS makes it easier to locate alternate routes.
And when the project is completed later this summer, locals will enjoy the benefit of a much improved highway to Iola or Chanute, he said.
