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Benton County supervisors review timeline, options for rumble strips at South Van Horn and Highway 30
Summary
Supervisors discussed safety measures and neighborhood noise concerns at the South Van Horn–Highway 30 intersection, and agreed to wait for a DOT-installed stop sign and related work before changing rumble-strip treatment.
Benton County supervisors discussed options for rumble strips at the South Van Horn and Highway 30 intersection and agreed to wait for a DOT-installed stop sign and other planned traffic devices before deciding on removing or altering the strips.
The discussion focused on balancing collision reduction and neighborhood noise. County staff and supervisors told the board that a traffic-safety review covering the 2014–2023 period found 38 accidents at the intersection, including five crashes classified as fatal or serious injury. That history prompted earlier board direction to install rumble strips in addition to other safety measures.
Staff described alternatives that could reduce noise while keeping a safety benefit. They said the state DOT has installed a sinusoidal (transverse) rumble-strip variant elsewhere that produces less noise by ground‑grinding a patterned wheel path instead of cutting grooves, and noted a contractor quoted a similar approach recently. Staff also described a lower-cost temporary repair used by DOT at another site: filling the grooves with cold mix or loose asphalt to reduce sound without completely removing the strip.
A complicating factor, staff said, is that the stop sign that would be part of the planned safety package sits on state/DOT property; that placement requires the DOT to complete its installation before the county can alter rumble strips on the county approach. Supervisors said they wanted staff to check progress with DOT and return with a timeline and recommendation once the DOT work is complete.
No formal vote was taken. Supervisors directed staff to follow up with DOT and report back at a future meeting so the board can document the county’s next steps.
The board also discussed possible costs and locations for additional flashing beacons and destination lighting, and asked staff to obtain contractor pricing and installation timelines for the low/noise options to present at a later date.
