By By MICHAEL C. GUILMETTE JR. / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Aiming at reducing traffic congestion and the potential for accidents at the Third Street and U.S. 12 intersection, the Michigan Department of Transportation began installing a left turn signal Wednesday afternoon.
Crews should finish installation of the turn signal by Tuesday, said Mike Seymour, an electrician with MDOT. The turn signal was approved for the intersection in March.
The project, costing $35,853, was paid for with federal funds, and the changes made to the median were funded by Lansing at a cost of $108,199. Niles Township board member Ron Goodwin reported these figures at the township's Dec. 4 meeting.
Goodwin said the federal government covered the installation of the turn signal due to safety concerns. Echoing these concerns, John LaMore, former fire chief for Niles Township, said he has seen "hundreds" of accidents at that intersection during his 25 years with the fire department.
Goodwin also reported the status of efforts to have a left turn signal at the Wal-Mart/Lowes entrance on South 11th Street. He reported that, in a conversation with MDOT officials, the entrance receives 85 percent of the traffic required by the state to warrant a turn signal.
Goodwin added, however, that the officials he spoke with may be willing to install a signal on South 11th Street because they expect the traffic at the entrance to increase during the upcoming year.
Niles Daily Star reporter Andy Hamilton contributed to this report.