Two stop signs were recently added to the intersection of Lane 9 (aka Avenue E) and Road 10 (Tower Boulevard), making it an all-way stop.

Tribune photo by CJ Baker

A busy and historically dangerous local intersection recently got a change for the better.

Two stop signs were added to the intersection of Avenue E (aka Lane 9) and Tower Boulevard (Road 10), making it a four-way stop just west of town.

For east- and westbound drivers used to zipping through the intersection without slowing or stopping, it will be an adjustment now to  come to a full stop.

It’s also important for drivers traveling north or south to continue stopping at the intersection, but now follow the rules for a four-way stop.

Over the years, the Avenue E/Tower Boulevard intersection has seen crashes and scary close-calls.

Last spring, a driver in a pickup failed to stop at the intersection, smashing into a car and sending it careening through a nearby fence and into a backyard. The car ultimately hit the corner of a home and knocked a natural gas line loose.

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in the wreck. But it certainly was unsettling for the couple who rented the home, especially considering their daughter was asleep in the house at the time of the crash.

Following that wreck last March, we wrote about the need for a four-way stop at the intersection. We’re thankful county and city officials took action, and we hope the additional stop signs help prevent wrecks at the intersection.

Of course, now it’s up to local drivers to pay attention and actually stop at the posted signs.

Far too often, drivers simply roll through stop signs, especially at rural intersections. As we saw in several crashes in Park County last year, those driving errors can have fatal consequences.

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Powell residents can expect to see major changes to Coulter Avenue in the near future.

After years of discussion and planning, federal, state and city funds are being pooled together to revamp the street, with federal funds covering the majority of the cost.

The City of Powell and Wyoming Department of Transportation are moving forward with a plan to remove the medians on Coulter Avenue (U.S. Highway 14-A) between Fair Street and Road 8. The approximately $1 million project also will involve new street lights, ADA compliant sidewalks, repaved streets and new curbs and gutters.

You can learn more and provide feedback during a public meeting on Feb. 1 from 4-6 p.m. at Powell City Hall.

Since it’s a major project involving a vital road, we’re glad to see the city and WyDOT reaching out to the public early on in the process.

As with any major roadwork, we know it will cause delays and headaches — but it should be a significant improvement to one of Powell’s busiest routes.

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A section of Wyo. Highway 120 will soon have a speed limit of 70 mph.

The speed limit will increase from about 18 miles north of Cody to the Montana border. The rural section is one of the first in the state to get a higher speed limit approved by the Wyoming Legislature last year. The other two highways with new 70 mph limits include much of U.S. Highway 85 from just east of its interchange with I-25 (Exit 17) north of Cheyenne to Newcastle and Wyo. Highway 130 from I-80 south to Saratoga.

Before the changes were approved, WyDOT did a comprehensive study and found it was safe to increase the speed limit to 70 mph.

In some areas of rural Wyoming, it is reasonable and safe to drive faster — and many drivers already do.

WyDOT is continuing to study 1,314 miles of highways for their potential to safely handle 70 mph speed limits. Sections being studied include U.S. Highway 14-16-20 east of Cody and U.S. Highway 20-26 between Casper and Shoshoni.

As changes occur on local roads and throughout the state, it’s important for drivers to pay attention. And while you’re at it, remember to buckle your seat belt and watch out for wildlife, too.