Ordinance to calm intersection passes

The City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 10-04 Wednesday, which will place stop signs to calm traffic at the intersection of South Mitchell Street, East Southdowns Drive and East Circle Drive.

The affected area is south of IU and east of Bryant Park.

“It is heavily trafficked by people who want to access Bryant Park or who want to walk to and from the University,” said council member Dave Rollo.

However, Rollo stressed that the stop signs are meant to calm the area, not stop traffic completely from coming in.

Justin Wykoff, manager of engineering services for the City of Bloomington, said during the ordinance’s first reading that there had not been any reported accidents during the past three years.

Council member Stephen Volan said many accidents go unreported because people consider them minor.

Rollo said the area’s neighborhood group has been concerned with calming the intersection’s traffic for years.

“Many see this area as dangerous,” he said. “It received 100 percent approval by the people in area.”