Stop signs will be placed on Roelker Road and Horseshoe Court along with the entrance to the Wright City High School after an ordinance was approved by the Wright City Board of Aldermen at its March 27 meeting. 

The stop signs were one of several safety changes recommended by Lieutenant Aaron Sutton to improve the thoroughfare for residents and students. 

“This is going to alleviate a safety concern today,” said Alderman Don Andrews, who sponsored the bill. “Once the road’s done and we complete the widening and the crosswalk, if we see fit that it needs to be more of a temporary stop, we can amend this at that time.”

Improvements on Roelker Road are being funded by a $6.5 million bond issue approved by voters in April 2024. 

Some residents at the meeting were concerned that the stop signs may worsen traffic conditions on the road, especially for those attempting to turn from Fast Lane, which is just north of the high school. 

Alderman Ramiz Hakim conceded that it may increase the amount of traffic in the area although Andrews contended since the traffic will be slowed by the stop signs it may be an improvement. 

“You’ll be able to get out because other cars will be stopped, they may be more apt to let you out,” said Andrews. 

Hakim said they will continue to engage with residents as they update the road and make any necessary changes as issues arise. 

“This may not be a permanent solution, right? We’re open to an amendment later, but I do think we should be continuing to engage with the public,” said Hakim. 

Attendees were also concerned with speeding on the road, especially as the section around the high school is now a school zone and has a speed limit of 20 mph on the road around the school. 

The city recently purchased a radar trailer that displays a vehicle's speed which they will be placing on the road in an attempt to curb speeding. 

Public Works Director Kyle Roettger also provided an update on construction at the meeting. 

He said they have completed a new rock base on parts of the road and will be moving forward with bid packets to fix rock patches that dot the road. 

“We’ll continue to monitor and address these patches until they are paved,” said Roettger. 

He clarified the bid packet for the rock patches near the high school would also address a rock patch in the northbound lane of the road just north of the train tracks. 

Once bids are received, they will move forward with paving the patches on the road. 

Hakim wanted to address the construction schedule and reiterated the board’s goal of having the road improvements completed before the start of the 2025-26 school year. 

Roettger said that while that is the goal of all parties involved, including Cochran Engineering who is designing the road, with potential constraints from weather they may not reach that deadline. 

“It’s going to be tight,” said Roettger. 

He said they are currently waiting on preliminary designs from Cochran, and once those are received and approved by the board they can finalize them and go out for bid on the larger road improvements including a complete overlay, and the addition of a turn lane in front of the high school. 

Hakim suggested whenever those plans are received, in order to expedite the process the board would hold an emergency meeting to approve them. 

Mayor Michelle Heiliger said they are getting new engineering plans since additions like the turn lane could cause drainage issues for adjacent properties if not handled correctly. 

“We want to make sure that we do this right the first time,” said Heiliger.