Temporary switch to blinking red could be in June
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
It looks like June will be the targeted month the traffic control light at the intersection of Third and Erie could switch to all blinking red mode. That will begin a 90-day study by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) study this summer.
MDOT officials, along with a Michigan State Police accident reconstructionist from Traverse City converged in a downtown parking in view of the light. They stayed in vehicles due to the heavy rains and winds.
It is all part of an ongoing process that could result in Rogers City losing it traffic control light — the only one in the county.
Steve Conradson, traffic and safety engineer from Alpena’s MDOT office, said his agency has been looking at this light since back in 2007 as part of MDOT’s optimization program. It revealed that the light was no longer meeting the volume requirements.
An additional study was conducted in 2012 and the traffic counts again did not meet the requirements.
Conradson said the April 29 on-site meeting was part of a geometric design evaluation of the intersection.
“We also were looking at the intersection,” said Conradson. “We wanted to gain concurrence of the state police on the aspects of how we plan to put the signal in temporary flash mode, while we do the evaluation period.
“One of the things we looked at at the intersection was to see if we had adequate sight distance. We also talked about what methods that we might want to have it flash.”
At a March meeting with city officials, the possibility of having the light flash red in all four directions was discussed as an option. After the April 29 meeting, it looks like that’s way they are leaning.
“It looks like we have concurrence to do that,” said Conradson. “One of the things we were concerned about was the close distance of street parking and buildings. It seems to be quite confining at that location, and it limits some of the sight distance. An all red flash might be the better route to go.”
Meaning all vehicles would have to stop and take turns go
Conradson will be waiting for a final report and then planning another meeting with the city.
The Lansing office presented information about a study, which indicates there are less delays with a four-way stop compared to a two-way.
“We will put the signal on flash and evaluate for 90 days and then we’ll do some traffic counts, and look at delays, and see if the volumes have changed, and evaluate the crash history,” he said.
Another issue discussed was the possibility of putting in stop signs. “That is one of the things we may do,” said Conradson.
It is one of two signals being evaluated by Alpena’s MDOT office. The other is at the intersection of M-65 and M-55.