Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

QUINCY, ILL. -- The city of Quincy is considering whether to replace stop signs with traffic lights at some of its busiest intersections.

City Engineer Jeff Steinkamp says one of the intersections in question is at 24th and Harrison. A recent traffic study showed a daily average of nine thousand cars pass through the north and southbound lanes and another eight thousand travel the east and westbound lanes. Steinkamp says that's a high count for that area.

"The whole intersection would be rebuilt for side radius, sidewalks, pedestrian activity. We'd probably have to acquire some city right of way from some of the property owners on the corner to make sure it's big and safe enough. We'd go by IDOT standards which would bring it out quite a bit than it is now, so you're right, we couldn't just put up some signals. We'd have to analyze the traffic and do an intersection design study, acquire some property and build it out," Steinkamp said.

If the city approves more traffic lights, the main intersections that could benefit from them would include 48th and State, 36th and Columbus as well as 24th and Harrison.

The project could be funded through a mix of city, safety and federal funds and would cost about 300 thousand dollars per intersection. The city will conduct another traffic study in the fall before making its decision.

"We're hoping to do the traffic study in September, October some time to get some numbers, maybe take a look at funding opportunities during the winter time. So there's a chance maybe next spring, it might be started on. It just depends. There are other intersections we're working on. Finances are limited with the city right now. So, we'd have to make sure we pick the right one at the right place," Steinkamp said.