Albertville City Council Examines County Road 19 Intersections

Tuesday, Albertville council member Larry Sorenson had an addition to the agenda for the night’s council meeting.

“What’s the deal with the accidents on [Wright] and what can we do to make it safer?” he asked.

Authorities have been called to the intersections on County Road 19 () an unsettling amount of times as accident incidents at the intersections have increased.

To date, each of the accidents have occurred when drivers are making left turns and not able to see oncoming traffic due to another vehicle in the left hand turn lane across from them.

“What are the options?” Sorenson asked the council and city staff Tuesday.

Council member Jill Schommer spoke up with personal experience.

“I was involved in an accident that totaled my car at one of those intersections. I agree, what can we do?” she asked.

City engineer Adam Nafstad shared his knowledge of the issue.

“The county and city staff knows about the issue and we are looking into what we can do.”

The intersections on County Road 19 are considered permissive intersections because one can turn left when the light is green, not just when there is a green arrow. When the green arrow is on, the intersections are protective–if only for a matter of moments.

According to Nafstad, options for the intersections include: better coordination of the traffic signals (which could be a costly venture or modifying the signal) at County Road 19/18 to a flashing yellow when turning left.

Nafstad agreed to keep the council updated on what any future ideas and plans are. Any change would have to be worked out with Wayne Fingalson and staff at the Wright County Highway Department.