<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595445072940.jpeg" alt="Great Bend McDonald's says sales have dropped 15% compared to last year since plastic delineators were installed along the turning lane in front of the restaurant.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Great Bend McDonald's says sales have dropped 15% compared to last year since plastic delineators were installed along the turning lane in front of the restaurant.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend Post
















When the City of Great Bend went ahead and installed plastic delineators
along the turn lane on 10th Street in front of the McDonald’s
entrance, their main objective was to prevent westbound traffic from crossing the
double yellow lines to turn into the restaurant. The barriers kept the turn
lane open for its intended use for eastbound traffic to turn north onto
Harrison Street and also deterred motorists from making left-hand turns onto 10th
Street from the McDonald’s exit. City Administrator Kendal Francis says the
installation of the delineators about a month and a half ago have helped the
issue, but the Great Bend City Council found out Monday night that the
delineators have also had a negative effect on sales at McDonald’s. Francis was
hesitant in removing any of the delineators to again allow westbound traffic on
10th the ability to turn left into the restaurant.
"If we put the delineators at the end of the loading lane, cars could make the turn but larger vehicles would not," said Francis. "We would have delineators knocked off on a regular basis. Even today, we're having traffic exit to the left out of McDonald's, driving to the end of the delineators and crossing into traffic."
Robert Lane has been with the ownership of the Great Bend McDonald's for the
past three years and told the City Council that sales have dropped 15% compared
to last year since the delineators were installed. Francis encouraged allowing
more time for motorists to get used to the signage on the proper entrance and
exit to McDonald’s before any changes are made.
"We put up larger blue signs today with the McDonald's logo to help direct traffic onto Harrison," said Francis. "The first sign is located on a sign pole about two blocks away and then we have one on the cross arm right at Harrison to educate people to take the Harrison entrance."
Lane noted westbound traffic that want to eat at McDonald’s and can’t make the
left turn into the restaurant will keep driving down 10th Street and
find another eating establishment where they can make the turn."We selling things for $1 and $1.50," said Lane. "We're a transaction business, there's no doubt about it. Anything that affects the traffic, affects us adversely."
The city will look at additional signage to encourage proper entrance and exit
to the restaurant at the 10th &amp; Harrison intersection. Lane was
encouraged to keep track of his sales numbers over the next few months to see if
they improve.
Westbound traffic is asked to turn south onto Harrison to enter McDonald’s.

Great Bend McDonald’s says traffic flow changes have hurt sales