Some city corners considered too dark

By Scott Bellile

Streetlights are coming to two New London intersections that city officials believe are too poorly lit after dark.

The New London Board of Public Works unanimously approved the installation of a streetlight at the corner of Pershing Road (County Trunk W) and Klatt Road on Monday, Feb. 5.

The intersection of County Trunk S and House Road on the east side of New London is also waiting on a streetlight, which the board unanimously authorized on Jan. 2.

New London Public Services Director Chad Hoerth said both streetlights will be installed when the weather warms up. He did not know the cost estimate at press time Tuesday, Feb. 6.

“Typically the cost is factored into the rate of the electricity,” Hoerth said. “[New London] Utilities would pay for the cost upfront and the city would pay an electrical rate charge that pays for pole, future maintenance and electricity. They need to figure this out yet to see if what type of light they would need on those corners.”

First District Alderman Robert Besaw asked for both streetlights.

This week when the streetlight was proposed at Pershing and Klatt roads, Besaw said the intersection is too poorly lit when driving to nighttime functions at New London High School.

At the Jan. 2 board of public works meeting, Besaw said turning onto House Road is difficult on winter nights because the snowy ditch blocks the view of the corner.

“I agree,” New London Mayor Gary Henke responded. “I guess I never drive out that way at night, but … I think one is needed and it’s basically to serve the people that are citizens out there.”

Streetlights are not the only public safety proposals that have been brought up in the last year in the vicinities of House Road and Klatt Road.

Last summer three residents in the East Ridge Subdivision requested two stop signs on nearby East Ridge Drive at the Caroline Drive and Lucas Drive intersections. They expressed concerns about vehicles passing through the neighborhood at dangerous speeds.

New London Police Department studied the area and concluded there is not enough traffic to justify stop signs.

Also last April, McMahon Group studied Pershing Road at the intersections of Klatt Road and Cedarhurst Drive/Beckert Road to determine how those high-traffic intersections could be improved.

Re-engineering the end of Klatt Road or constructing a roundabout were among the solutions board members discussed. They have not taken official action on the study’s findings.