Iola’s latest chip seal upgrade in the south part of town and the closing of Sigg’s Auto Parts has opened opportunity to correct a mildly dangerous traffic situation on South Washington.
For years — maybe back to just after Bill Krause had a service station on the northwest corner of Washington and Broadway streets — diagonal parking extended to the corner on the west side of Washington.
What that has meant is, when motorists approached from the west, it often was necessary to drive part way into the intersection to ensure a vehicle wasn’t coming from the north, unsettling for drivers in all directions.
That easily can be rectified.
The street upgrade means that parking zones will have to be repainted. It would be a good time to eliminate two or three spaces or at the very least make the spaces nearest the corner parallel parking for visibility’s sake.
— Bob Johnson
