After a several week experiment, four-way stops will disappear and stoplights will regain functionality at two Ely intersections.
Yet local officials voiced some caution this week as the Sheridan Street intersections at both Central Avenue and Third Avenue East go back to how they were before the state began a six-week experiment.
“Starting Thursday it’s going back to normal,” police chief Chad Houde told Ely council members Tuesday night. “At Central and Sheridan and at Third and Sheridan.”
For the last six weeks, the Minnesota Department of Transportation tested fourway stops while the traffic signals blinked a constant red.
That test has ended, but will resume in mid-summer as MnDOT explores what might happen next at each intersection.
But for now, the traffic signals are functioning again and Houde said it may take motorists some time to readjust.
“My one fear is that people will be stopping and going again (rather than waiting for the light to turn green),” said Houde. “Like when it switched over it took a few weeks to adjust. Now we have to go back.”
Houde noted, “It’s going to happen again this summer during our busiest time.”
Ely police have been on the lookout for motorists who have not followed the fourway stop regulations, and city clerk-treasurer Harold Langowski said he observed one earlier that day.
“What’s interesting is it’s been this way for about six weeks but when I pulled up on Third Avenue going north, there was a van that made absolutely no effort to slow down for the flashing light,” said Langowski. “Those are things that during this test were noted and reported back to MnDOT.”
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 both during the winter and summer.
The conversion away from regular traffic signals was the result of MnDOT studies of traffic counts, crash data and other information.
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 mini-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 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.
In another police-related move Tuesday, council members removed the probationary status of police office Ashlan Bathorpe, who has completed a full year with the department.
“She’s been a great addition to our department,” said Houde. “She’s very personable and makes connections. It’s nice to see a young active officer out there enforcing our laws.”
