The Charleston City Council voted Tuesday to authorize a joint response agreement between the Charleston and Mattoon fire departments.

The agreement, if approved by the Mattoon City Council, will provide a joint response when a fire is called along the Route 16 corridor where the dividing line between each department’s jurisdictions is located.

Steve Bennett, the assistant fire chief of Charleston, said this agreement is an extension of agreements already in place, which are called a Rescue Intervention Team.

“It is basically a rescue team reserved for the firefighters,” Bennett said. “We each send one when there is a structural fire in either town. This agreement clarifies the Route 16 area so neither town is left completely defenseless against fires in town.”

According to the Charleston/Mattoon Auto-Aid to the Corridor Standard Operating Procedures, if it is passed by Mattoon City Council, the department with the jurisdiction will send one engine and one ladder truck while the other department will send one engine and an ambulance.

This agreement will be effective for five years when it will be renewed.

The council also approved the second phase of construction for the intersection for Ninth Street and Lincoln Avenue.

The plan will add a second left turn lane so there will be three lanes altogether—two turning left and one straight and turning right.

Currently, there is no timeline for the project, but Charleston Mayor John Inyart said at no time will the intersection be completely closed.

“Route 16 will not be closed,” Inyart said. “It will be under construction and at times down to fewer lanes.”

Inyart said the ultimate goal of the project is to improve the flow of traffic around campus.

“I hope it has a positive effect and improves the flow of traffic out of campus,” he said.

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].

Samantha McDaniel also contributed to this report.