Ely’s two remaining stoplights will go to flashing red later this winter as state officials implement a pair of four-way stops.
Council members in Ely were briefed Tuesday, after city officials were notified by the Minnesota Department of Transportation about plans to test four-way stops on Sheridan Street - at both the intersections of Central Avenue and Third Avenue East - beginning next month.
“That will go on for about six weeks,” said Harold Langowski, the city’s clerk-treasurer and operations director. “It will be the first week of February through the second week of March.”
The traffic signals at both intersections have reached the end of their useful life, and MnDOT officials indicated during a hearing in Ely last fall that they eventually want to place mini-roundabouts at both locations.
But that’s not in the works at the moment and MnDOT indicated the first step would be to test four-way stops.
“As they stated at the hearing, they’re going to have a four-way stop,” said Langowski. “The signal lights at Central and at Third Avenue East will be on flashing reds, and they’ll also be installing stop signs.”
The conversion away from regular traffic signals was the result of MnDOT studies of traffic counts, crash data and other information.
They’ll test the four-way stops both this winter and again during the summer.
“They’ll be looking again during the busy season in July and August and looking at a four-way stop again,” said Langowski. “For the foreseeable future, those signalized intersections will remain, but they want to get more data on how those will perform in a four-way stop intersection.”
Langowski said he has held discussions with police chief Chad Houde about public safety and the adjustments motorists may need to make given the changes at both intersections.
“People will want to roll those stop signs out of habit,” said Langowski.
Although there is no money currently budgeted by the state to remove the traffic signals and install mini-roundabouts, that indeed is the recommendation of the state, although city officials and many attending last fall’s public hearing were skeptical.
According to MnDOT, the roundabouts are preferred because they:
• Are the safest form of traffic control for all users;
• Create the least amount of delay for all users;
• Reduce vehicle speeds in the downtown area;
• Provide a U-Turn opportunity for those looking for parking;
• Easily and efficiently handles large fluctuations in traffic including seasonal changes and special events.
MnDOT determined that there was no warrant for traffic signals at the Third Avenue intersection, and nothing currently for Central Avenue, although in some future scenarios a warrant was met.
The state also concluded a change was more economical, given estimates that replacing stop lights comes with a cost of about $1.1 million each, compared to about $500,000 each for mini-roundabouts Yet at the moment, there are no plans to make the switch and typically conversion comes three-to-five years after funding is acquired.
Langowski stressed to council members that Ely’s traffic signals are going to remain - at least for now.
“There is not a plan for their demise or replacement or installation of a roundabout or mini-roundabout,” he said. “It’s not designed. It’s not planned. This is not the first step toward installing a roundabout next summer. I know that’s what the buzz will be, but that’s not what is happening.”
