Whitewater Director of Public Works Brad Marquardt, releasing a public service announcement Friday, noted that the city, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, will be temporarily closing Starin Road to vehicular traffic.

The temporary measure in anticipated to last for two weeks as officials explore the pedestrian safety benefits derived from closing the road.

As stated in the release, the road will close to vehicular traffic Monday, Oct. 7, between Prince and Prairie streets. The road will reopen Friday, Oct. 18.

Closures to through traffic will be in place during the two-week period, Mondays through Fridays, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Marquardt wrote: “The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is interested in improving pedestrian safety when crossing Starin Road between Prince Street and Prairie Street. One solution (university administration) would like to investigate further is the closure of Starin Road to vehicular traffic during certain hours … while the university is in session. The exact closure would be just east of the Warhawk Drive intersection to just east of the UW Bookstore.”

To allow for the gathering of information and determining of impacts, Marquardt noted, the city council has authorized the two-week temporary closure.

Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes, which may include County Trunk U, Schwager Drive or Main Street, the release stated.