Original article published May 9, 2024 by Tom Cherveny from the West Central Tribune.
An allocation of Highway Safety Improvement Program funds will make it possible to convert the Highways 23/7 intersection in Clara City to an all-way stop. Highway 67 will also see improvements as a result of the funding.
CLARA CITY — The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be converting the busy intersection of Minnesota Highways 23 and 7 in Clara City from a two-way to an all-way stop.
A recent allocation of $1,090,000 in Highway Safety Improvement Program funds to MnDOT's District 8 is making possible both this and two safety improvement projects on state Highway 67, according to information from the District 8 office in Willmar.
A 2021 study completed by Stantec Engineering for MnDOT and Chippewa County recommended converting the Clara City intersection to an all-way stop.
Stop signs with flashing LED lights will be installed. The news release from MnDOT states that the project will be implemented in 2026, but the local MnDOT office is beginning work to expedite it.
Jacob Mages, project manager with District 8, said MnDOT will be reaching out to gather input on the conversion as engineering and design work moves forward. It is likely that turn lanes will be added. MnDOT will also be looking at how best to advise motorists approaching the intersection of the change to an all-way stop, and evaluating current speed limits there.
Currently, traffic on Highway 23 must stop even though it carries a higher volume of traffic than Highway 7.
MnDOT previously adjusted the intersection in 2002 to improve sight lines. It realigned the intersection to eliminate a skew and added turn lanes.
Constructing a roundabout was considered, but the large cost, need to acquire additional right of way, and potential impact on businesses led to the recommendation for an all-way stop when the study was completed.
MnDOT does not believe it will be necessary to acquire additional right of way for the all-way stop conversion, which will allow for the project to be expedited, according to Mages.
MnDOT expects investing $440,000 of District 8's Highway Safety Improvement Program funds for the project in Clara City.
The funds awarded to the southwest Minnesota district will also make possible these two projects:
- Highway 67 between Wood Lake and Echo: Lighting will be installed at Highway 67 and Yellow Medicine County Road 6, and at Highway 67 and Yellow Medicine County Road 21. Highway 67 has been rerouted between Granite Falls and Echo due to a slope failure on the portion of highway that was located in the former Upper Sioux Agency State Park. The rerouted roadway uses Highway 23, Highway 274 (old designation) and Yellow Medicine County Road 2 (old designation). As a result, two new state highway-to-state highway intersections were created when Highway 67 was rerouted. The project received $90,000 in Highway Safety Improvement Program funding and is scheduled for implementation in 2025.
- Highway 23 and Highway 67 (formerly Highway 274) south of Granite Falls: Highway 67 as it approaches Highway 23 will be realigned to eliminate a skew. The realignment will enhance sight lines, particularly for drivers with reduced head and neck mobility. The project received $560,000 in Highway Safety Improvement Program funding and is scheduled for construction in 2027.