HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Crews began removing traffic lights Tuesday at two intersections after a city traffic study determined the signals were no longer needed.
The lights at Avenue A and Washington Street and at 4th Avenue and Washington Street are being taken down following a summer trial period. Both intersections now feature stop signs on the northbound and southbound lanes.
Earlier this year, Hutchinson Public Works Director Cecil Weible told the City Council that removing unwarranted signals can reduce the chance of accidents by about 24 percent.
The change is also expected to save the city about $2,900 annually in electrical and maintenance costs.
The removal process began in May with advance notice signage and temporary bagging of the signals to monitor traffic flow. City officials said the engineering study that prompted the change was based on traffic volumes, safety data, and national standards.