CEDAR CITY — To reduce driver confusion and increase pedestrian safety, Southern Utah University requested approval to create a four-way stop at the intersection of 200 South and 1150 West.

Last Wednesday, Cedar City Council gave the university a thumbs up as part of its consent agenda, where council members approve multiple items with a single up or down vote.

With new buildings pushing the university’s footprint west and students now being required to retrieve packages from the SUU post office, the intersection has seen an influx of traffic, said Ben Johnson, SUU senior managing director of construction services.

SUU could also see increased pedestrian traffic as the university grows due to a parking lot at the intersection’s northwest corner, particularly since this lot doesn’t require a permit.

Johnson noted several other concerns, including visibility issues when driving south due to a curve in the road on 1150 West near the Center for Hope and the Native Plant Center’s landscaping.

Additionally, because there are other four-way stops on 1150 West and 1100 West at the intersections of 400 South, 600 South and 800 South, the Utah Department of Transportation and SUU have observed apparent uncertainty regarding right-of-way at 200 South. And some drivers are already treating it like a four-way stop.

“It creates a lot of confusion,” Johnson said. “If you guys ever want to, I would invite any of the City Council members to come anytime between 7 o’clock in the morning to about two in the afternoon, and you’ll watch and see it’s a lot of near misses in that area.”

Stop signs were installed previously on the intersection’s east and west legs, with signs to be installed on the north and south legs.

SUU requested Cedar City provide a 36-inch flashing stop sign for the southeast corner and a “Stop Ahead” warning sign to be placed approximately 300 feet before the intersection on 1150 West. However, Johnson said the university would purchase these signs and paint crosswalks if necessary.

“It’s a huge thing for our students to be able to get them across the road there safely,” he said.

Written support from Cedar City Police Chief Darin Adams and the UDOT was submitted with the council packet, and several council members voiced their approval, including R. Scott Phillips.

“I think this is a smart move, and I think it’s time we did it,” he said.

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