Milton council seeks more information on four-way stop proposal

Milton Town Council has asked town officials to come up with more information on a proposal to install stop signs all four ways at the intersection of Chestnut and Atlantic streets.

At its March 1 meeting, council unanimously voted to table the measure and seek an advisory report with recommendations from the Traffic Calming Ad Hoc Advisory Committee.

The idea has been debated off and on by the Streets, Sidewalks and Parks Committee for close to a year. Currently, there is a two-way stop at Atlantic and Wharton streets with no stop on Chestnut. However, there is a building at that intersection that obscures traffic coming from Chestnut, so to improve safety, the committee discussed putting a stop sign both ways on Chestnut as well as crosswalks.

Former streets committee member PD Camenisch asked the council to make sure the ad hoc committee consults those who have researched and worked on this issue in the past. 

Also complicating things is that the Delaware Department of Transportation owns the intersection. Public Works Director Greg Wingo said the state would probably come in and do a traffic study there. Councilwoman Randi Meredith, who chairs the ad hoc committee, said DelDOT has indicated that the town could put up stop signs there, but an agreement would need to be in place that the town maintains the signs. 

Wingo agreed that more information could go a long way toward determining whether a four-way stop at that intersection should be pursued. 

Mayor Ted Kanakos said, “It is the only intersection that I’ve come across where a state highway stops for a side street. I would prefer to see a stop sign on Chestnut on both sides and let the traffic flow through. But this is another option.”