MUSCATINE, Iowa – Drivers and pedestrians will notice some changes at the intersection of Mulberry Avenue and Tipton Road this week. The City of Muscatine’s Department of Public Works has updated the design of the intersection to improve safety and traffic flow.
At the September 4 City Council meeting, members discussed several ways to make the intersection safer, including adding an extra stop sign and a “Yield to Pedestrians” crosswalk sign. City Engineer Kevin Coon reviewed options and explained how the changes could be tested and evaluated over time.
Council members also suggested making the painted traffic island more permanent to help prevent drivers from cutting the corner onto Tipton Road.
In response, City staff created a redesigned island that enhances safety for both drivers and pedestrians—while keeping costs low. The new setup can stay in place permanently or be removed if it doesn’t perform as expected. If the design works well, the City may consider upgrading it to a more durable, long-term feature in the future.
The stop sign and crosswalk signs are now securely bolted to the pavement, with a traffic barrel around the stop sign to make it more visible. Instead of using more barrels—which could block sight lines—staff installed flexible post delineators that form the island. These posts are easy to see and can be driven over safely if needed.
The island remains the same size as before, and City staff will continue to study the crosswalk to see if changes to its location are needed.
The project cost was about $2,000, paid for through the City’s Road Use Tax fund.