The City of Stillwater has greenlit a comprehensive redesign of three downtown intersections, approving a $173,000 project aimed at enhancing both safety and aesthetics in the city’s historic commercial district.

Councilors voted unanimously at Monday’s meeting to approve new plans for the intersections at Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Avenues, moving forward with upgrades that will transform the downtown streetscape while shelving plans for a controversial roundabout at 10th Avenue.

One of the downtown Stillwater intersections slated for redesign under the new $173,000 improvement plan

The ambitious redesign package includes installing solar-powered, LED-lighted stop signs mounted on cast-iron black pedestals, adding traditional stop signs with street names on diagonal corners, and implementing Block 34-style LED pedestrian lighting at former signal locations. The project also calls for additional pedestrian crossing signs and refreshed pavement markings, including the word “stop” and crosswalk striping.

From Traffic Signals to Street Lights

Bill Millis, the City’s director of engineering, presented the comprehensive plans to City Council at its December 15 meeting. The proposal represents a significant shift in downtown traffic management, converting existing traffic signals into a more traditional stop-sign-based system with enhanced visibility features.

In a cost-saving measure, Stillwater Electric will handle the conversion of traffic signals to street lights in-house. However, the project required an additional $85,000 allocation to the Stillwater Utilities Authority to complete the electrical work, bringing the total budget to $173,000.

The redesign aims to preserve Stillwater’s “cute little quaint downtown area” character while enhancing pedestrian safety

Concerns Over Brightness

Not all aspects of the plan sailed through without discussion. Councilor Tim Hardin raised concerns about the brightness of the proposed solar-powered LED stop signs, drawing on his experience with similar installations elsewhere in the city.

Hardin pointed to the solar stop signs installed at Country Club Road as a cautionary example, noting they are visible from as far away as 19th Avenue—a distance that suggests potential light pollution concerns for the downtown area.

“I’m not opposed to the stop signs, I’m not opposed to the flashing lights,” Hardin clarified during the meeting. “I am opposed to having lights that are just really obnoxious.”

Safety First, With Aesthetic Considerations

Director of Engineering Bill Millis moved quickly to address the Council’s concerns, assuring members that the plan includes dimmable lights rather than the fixed-brightness units that had generated concern. He also indicated the City could obtain samples of different lighting options before making final purchase decisions.

City Manager Brady Moore affirmed that safety remained the paramount consideration in the staff’s selection process, while acknowledging the importance of balancing visibility with community character.

“One of the biggest priorities of City staff in choosing the flashing lights was safety,” Moore told the Council, “but I agree that dimmable lights are preferred.”

Unanimous Approval Moves Project Forward

Following the discussion and reassurances from city staff, the Council voted unanimously to approve the intersection redesign project. The approval marks a significant step forward in the city’s ongoing efforts to balance downtown development with historic character preservation.

The $173,000 investment represents one of several infrastructure improvements the city has undertaken in recent years to enhance downtown Stillwater’s appeal as both a commercial center and community gathering space.

Implementation of the redesign is expected to begin in early 2026, with city officials aiming to minimize disruption to downtown businesses and traffic flow during the construction phase.

The shelved 10th Avenue roundabout project remains under consideration, with city officials indicating they will revisit the proposal at a future date once additional analysis and community input has been gathered.