What’s the Accident Threshold To Get a Traffic Light? A Look at a Brooklyn Park Intersection

After a crash at Winnetka Avenue North and Oxbow Creek Drive in late May, some Brooklyn Park neighbors are sharing concerns about accident frequency at that intersection.

State data reveals that over the last 10 years, there have been 12 crashes at that intersection. None were fatal.

Jeff Holstein, transportation engineer with the city of Brooklyn Park, said it typically takes five crashes in 12 months to indicate a problem. His department determines what sort of traffic control methods are needed at intersections.

“At this point in time, the number of crashes don’t meet that requirement to allow us to install a signal,” Holstein said. “It’s getting close and we’ll keep an eye on it, but it’s not there yet.”

Holstein said the city has kept an eye on that particular intersection for quite some time. When the NorthPark Business Center went in, Holstein said the city made an agreement with NorthPark. If a signal or roundabout ever became a need for that area, NorthPark would have to financially contribute to that improvement.

The city determines intersection traffic control methods by looking at development, safety, congestion and how to mitigate additional traffic. There’s a Minnesota manual for traffic control, as well as a national manual that departments follow.

Oxbow Creek Drive is a city road and Winnetka Avenue a county road. Any changes at that intersection would also have to be done with the county’s assistance. Holstein said a signal costs around $500,000 each and a roundabout can cost $1-2 million.

If you have concerns about any intersection in your city, Holstein said you can contact him at jeff.holstein@brooklynpark.org.

For county-wide concerns, the Toward Zero Deaths Action Plan offers a map to report county-owned roads of concern.

Brooklyn Park