Council gives go-ahead to Stadium intersection work

COLUMBIA — The council gave a green light for proposed work on the busy intersection of Stadium and Forum boulevards.

The council voted unanimously to let staff decide if they want to move both the raised median and the Stadium crosswalk to the east to make way for westbound large vehicles, like trucks and trailers, as they turn from Stadium Boulevard onto Forum Boulevard.

There was more than an hour of public comments about the project at the meeting, and the majority expressed concerns about safety in crossing the intersection.

In another agenda item, council decided to table the proposal for reconstruction of Hunt Avenue for one month.

City staff needs to review the proposal, given the low turnout of interested property owners at an open house meeting held in August, the council said.

The reluctance of some residents to have a sidewalk installed on the west side of the street also contributed to the delay.

The council said it will reconsider a call by one of the residents to have the existing street widened to just 24 feet instead of the proposed 28 feet.