County engineer flags sight-distance shortfall at rural intersection, recommends testing temporary signs

Winneshiek County Engineer Mike Kuti reported to the Board of Supervisors that recent inspections covered culverts and short-span bridges and that crews will complete backfill and asphalt patching at a fourth culvert this week. He said bridge backfill operations are underway and that final inspection results are pending.

Kuti then addressed a resident request to convert the intersection at County Road 288 and 310th Street from a two-way stop to a four-way stop. He said the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) stopping sight-distance requirement for gravel roads is roughly 400 feet and that the site falls short of that standard. Kuti said the county should follow standard engineering practice and explore low-cost, temporary measures — including “stop ahead” signs and monitoring over the winter — before pursuing a permanent change.

Supervisors asked for cost estimates and alternatives. One supervisor asked, “What would the cost of knocking the hill down be?” Kuti said grade work would take roughly a week of labor for two or three people but he did not have a dollar estimate available at the meeting. Board members agreed to visit the site and consider placing the item on a future agenda if warranted.

Kuti also told the board that four culverts have been installed, concrete patching is complete on three of them and asphalt patching will start soon, and that bridge 208E backfill work should continue this week. He said the county will coordinate striping work under next year’s contract and that some fog lines will be added in a subsequent contract year.

The board took no formal action on the intersection at the meeting; supervisors directed staff to inspect the location, consider temporary signage, and revisit the item if additional measures are needed.