WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) — The Williams City Council voted Oct. 2 to remove the controversial “porkchop” traffic island at Fourth and E streets after nearly a year of complaints from nearby businesses that said the design cut off customer access and hurt sales.
Installed in November 2024 at a cost of more than $20,000, the triangular concrete island was intended to reduce traffic conflicts near the Interstate 5 on and off ramps. Instead, it created confusion and limited left-turn access to several businesses, including Williams Chinese Restaurant and the 76 gas station.
On Wednesday, Interim City Administrator John Schempf presented what he called a compromise solution to address those concerns without fully abandoning safety goals.
“It occurred to me that it was worth an attempt to see if we could come up with a compromised situation,” Schempf said. “I got a hold of the chief and a couple of folks from public works and the engineer. We kicked around what an alternative might look like. I was looking for something simpler that would permit traffic flow both ways.”
city plans to remove the concrete “porkchop” traffic island. The 76-gas station owned by Nancy
Marshall can be seen in the background. The redesign will replace the island with plastic
pylons and new striping to improve business access while maintaining safety controls.
The new plan calls for the removal of the concrete structure and installation of about 40 plastic pylons spaced two feet apart, with new striping and directional arrows painted on the pavement. The project is expected to cost between $1,500 and $2,000 for materials and paint, a fraction of the original installation cost.
The change will allow right-turn entries and exits from Fourth Street while continuing to restrict left turns onto or off of E Street, which city officials say are unsafe so close to the freeway ramps.
Williams Police Chief Chris Miller said the redesign will maintain the intent of the original project while restoring some accessibility.
“One of the big concerns we had was vehicles making U-turns in the 76 station parking lot, creating unsafe conditions,” Miller said. “The existing porkchop will be removed, pylons installed, and new road striping down the middle of Fourth Street will allow right-in, right-out traffic. It keeps people from making unsafe left turns but still lets customers exit safely.”
Business owners said that while the change is welcome, it still falls short of fully fixing the problem.
Elena Thanh Sin Duong, owner of Williams Chinese Restaurant, said the original design caused her business to lose customers.
“People traveling east can’t turn onto Fourth Street from E,” Duong said. “That’s the reason we’re losing business.”
Miller acknowledged the frustration but said drivers can still reach the area using Fifth Street.
Resident Caroline Vann voiced safety concerns about shifting more traffic toward Fifth Street, where Dutch Bros and other businesses already create congestion.
“You’re going to put all the traffic on Fifth Street,” Vann said. “With the trucks going that way and everybody else, who’s going to have the first accident?”
Council discussion reflected the challenge of balancing safety with business access. Councilmember John Troughton Jr. questioned how drivers leaving Fourth Street would reach the freeway if only right turns were allowed, noting that some would likely make risky maneuvers to turn around.
Mayor Maria Belmontes-Leyva said the temporary fix is a practical step while the city works toward longer-term improvements.
“I feel like this is a step in the right direction,” Belmontes-Leyva said. “It doesn’t address all of the concerns, but it’s something we can afford and do quickly to improve access. I don’t want to move away from our goal of finding a better solution.”
Miller said the city will monitor traffic through its cameras once the nearby coffee shop opens, using data to determine whether a signalized intersection at Fifth Street might be warranted in the future.
“There’s no perfect fix,” Miller said. “We’re working with an old city and old roadways, trying to make them work safely.”
The council approved the change on a 3-1-1 vote, with Councilmember Don Parsons absent and Troughton voting no.
While the $24,000 porkchop will soon be removed, the city hopes the cheaper temporary layout will ease tensions and improve traffic until a permanent design can be developed.