McCall Idaho Headline News

The city of McCall is mulling over three options to improve the intersection of Lick Creek Road and Davis Avenue near Ponderosa State Park, including one option that would include a roundabout.

About 20 residents attended an open house the city held to display the proposals two weeks ago, grant coordinator Carol Coyle said. A few of the residents in attendance were representing nearby homeowner's associations.

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The city is proposing the renovation of the intersection to improve traffic flows on the streets and to provide better access to Ponderosa State Park, which is located north of the intersection.

In the most popular and cheapest first option, known as a radius extension improvement, the intersection would be widened to allow large recreational vehicles the ability to turn right from Lick Creek Road on to Davis Avenue.

Twenty-one residents approved of the first option, which keeps the present setup largely intact.

The first option would also make Davis Avenue a through street, rather than the current setup that has a stop sign for southbound traffic on the street but not for northbound traffic. The option would also keep a parking lot used for Davis Beach and could include on street parking on Lick Creek Road west of the intersection. The first option is estimated to cost about $102,000.

The second option, known as the continuous curve option, the city would join the eastern section of Lick Creek Road and the southern section of Davis Ave., in a continuous curve.

The northern section of Davis Avenue would have a stop sign for motorists attempting to access either road in the curve.

The western section of Lick Creek Road would have a stop sign at the intersection with the north section of Davis Ave.

Six residents selected the second option at the open house. The second option would cost the city an estimated $125,000 to construct.

The third option, a roundabout, would have no stop signs. Motorists would be required to turn right into the roundabout and exit to the right on the appropriate street.

The third option was the most expensive option at $219,000 and the least favored by the residents in attendance at the open house. Two residents chose the roundabout option.

To finance the construction, which was not included in the city's 2008 budget, Coyle said the city could apply for Local Option Tax funds and state grants.

The city could apply for a grant from the state as early as January, she said. The city would know the outcome of that grant by May and could have funding in place as early as July.

LOT funding could not be in place any earlier than October of next year.

Additional city funding could be included in the 2009 budget, Coyle said.

Construction of the improved intersection could begin as early as the spring of 2009.

Residents who wish to comment on the proposals can still contact Coyle at 634-3504.