Wright City Mayor Michelle Heiliger provided an update on repairs and improvements to Roelker Road at the board of aldermen’s Feb. 27 meeting. 

The road has been the subject of concern for several weeks as it has fallen into disrepair and seen a significant increase in traffic since the opening of Wright City’s new high school earlier this year. 

After a disagreement with the Wright City R-II School Board over who would pay to fix and improve the thoroughfare, the city reneged and agreed to cover the repairs. 

When that decision was made, Heiliger outlined the scope of the work the city would be doing, and now those changes are starting to be made. 

The first step that was completed last week was the installation of several new signs on the road both to improve traffic flow, and safety. 

The stop sign on Roelker Road at the intersection with Second Street was removed and a “cross traffic does not stop” sign was added to the stop sign on Second Street. 

There are also two signs warning motorists not to stop on the railroad tracks, which had become an issue as traffic increased around the school’s arrival and dismissal times. 

The city also installed several school zone signs decreasing the speed limit from 35 mph to 20 mph in front of the building during school hours. 

There are a few other measures the city will be taking to improve road safety and traffic flow before work starts on the road itself, according to Heiliger. 

The city plans to remove three trees that are on the southeast side of the intersection between Second Street and Roelker to improve visibility and is also going to paint lines to stop traffic on either side of the railroad crossing. 

“We will remove the trees at the intersection of Roelker and Second Street as soon as the ground dries up enough that we don’t just tear up that guy’s yard,” said Heiliger. 

She was also excited to announce a bid packet for the road improvements had been prepared and they would be going out for bid the following week. 

Heiliger also outlined what work was going to be done specifically once the bids were awarded. 

She said the city plans to overlay the road from Veterans Memorial Parkway on the north side all the way to Fruit Farm Road to the south. She said the city would also be widening the road in front of the high school to accommodate a turn lane and alleviate traffic constraints. 

Heiliger continued, saying once the road is paved, they will be striping the road and painting a crosswalk with a lighted sign as well. They will also install guardrails over Peruque Creek on the road. 

There had also been conversations about installing a traffic light on the road, although she was uncertain if there would be room in the budget. 

“We’ve talked about a signal being at the intersection of the school district property and Horseshoe Court for buses leaving,” said Heiliger. “So we’re still waiting for pricing on that.”

One citizen, Kathy Nickel, spoke up at the meeting and said her property backed up to Roelker Road and she was concerned the city would need land to complete the project.