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Waukesha council approves permanent overhead stop signs at Guthrie and Sunset after safety appeals
Summary
After residents cited reckless driving and a prior fatality, the Waukesha Common Council voted unanimously to install permanent overhead stop signs with flags on both directions of Sunset at Guthrie and to continue studying future median work and funding options.
The Waukesha Common Council voted unanimously July 15 to install permanent overhead stop signs with flags on both directions of Sunset at Guthrie after residents urged improvements to a dangerous intersection.
Residents raised the issue during public comment. John Thomas of 134 Douglas described the current temporary signage as visible but said the city should weigh spending priorities; he characterized his remarks as a personal opinion. Daryl Enriquez told the council he has seen reckless driving at the intersection and cited a past fatality, saying, “I would support an overhead, lighted flashing stop sign like the one at Whittier School.”
The Buildings and Grounds report said city staff had done additional fact-finding since the item left committee. Alex of the city garage told the council the garage “has parts for installing a post and arms that would overhang the stop signs across Sunset for the east and westbound directions,” adding that the city does not currently have flashing signs but can install standard overhead signs at minimal cost. Ald. Eric Payne said the equipment and signs are in stock and that the only cost would be concrete for bases, calling the option a permanent and low-cost solution.
Payne made the motion to install the overhead stop arms with stop signs in both directions and add flags; the motion included continued staff review of a future median and center-stop option and outreach for potential cost-share funding. The council recorded aye votes from Katie Piper, Payne and Dean Lemke and the mayor stated the motion passed unanimously.
The council also discussed possible county participation in funding future enhancements because Minooka Park (a county park) generates a portion of intersection traffic; staff said they would reach out to Waukesha County and explore other sources such as HSIP cost-share funding.
The motion directs Public Works and the city garage to proceed with installation of overhead signs and flags and to continue evaluating median and center-stop options for future capital planning. Implementation details—such as whether flashing beacons will be added later and the precise cost-share arrangements with the county—were left to staff for follow-up.
