City engineer: Henning Road crosswalk with flashing beacons to be included in MoDOT project; construction expected next year

Dardenne Prairie officials discussed pedestrian safety on Henning Road and an upcoming MoDOT-funded project that will include crosswalk striping and RRFB (rapid rectangular flashing beacon) installations at Baird/Barret Haven Boulevard.

City Engineer Matt told the board the crosswalk striping and RRFBs "will be included in the Henning Road project that is upcoming. It's currently in design and going through the environmental process right now with MoDOT. So, that's a federally funded project, and those improvements will be included in that project." He said construction is anticipated next year and that there is no right-of-way acquisition or utility relocation on the segment described.

Board members from Ward 3 raised concerns about driver speeds and whether button-activated beacons are effective. Matt said the RRFBs will be activated by a button press rather than flashing continuously; he agreed to confirm whether the beacon light surrounds the sign. One member recalled converting a similar location to stop signs with flashing lights after drivers repeatedly failed to stop for crossing pedestrians.

Matt also provided a cost estimate for implementing the crosswalk treatments separately (outside the federal project), saying the estimates are "about $20,000 each." Board members asked whether the city could accelerate work ahead of the federal schedule; Matt said moving the work outside the MoDOT project would require the city to pay those costs.

Next steps: the work will proceed through MoDOT's environmental and design process; staff will follow up on the precise beacon installation details and the project timeline.