Council Approves Changes to Benton Drive Intersection

SAUK RAPIDS - The Sauk Rapids City Council has voted to make a change to a busy intersection.

For several years the council has discussed the need to make improvements to the five-leg Benton Drive/5th Street South/2nd Avenue South intersection.  During tonight's (Monday) council meeting they voted 3-2 to close access to Benton Drive from 5th Street, and turn that street into a cul de sac.

The change will be made next year, as part of a $1.4 million reconstruction project of three blocks of Benton Drive from 2nd Street to 5th Street.

The change at the intersection is expected to reduce traffic delays there by two seconds, from 26 seconds to 24 seconds, during peak hours of traffic.

Two residents spoke out against closing the 5th Street access.  The two council members who voted against it were Jared Gapinksi and Paul Weber.

The entire project will be paid for using half-cent sales tax dollars.