Springfield moves to next phase of traffic signal study

The city of Springfield has moved to the next phase of monitoring three intersections for traffic signal removal.

The city of Springfield Engineering Department began studying traffic signals at four intersections on May 28 for a 90-day evaluation period.

During the 90 days, the lights were flashing yellow.

The city covered lights Aug. 28 and plans to keep them that way for 60 days.

The intersections have been treated as two-way stops since the traffic study started in May.

Previous traffic studies on the four signals have shown that the intersections do not meet current the criteria to warrant a traffic light and are not expected to meet them in the future, the city previously said.

The four intersections that were originally in the study were Burnett Road and Sunset Avenue, Selma Road and Kenwood Avenue, Montgomery Avenue and Pleasant Street and Western Avenue and Pleasant Street.

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The 90-day period is officially over and the lights are no longer flashing yellow, but only three out of four signals will continue to be studied.

The signal located at Burnett Road and Sunset Avenue has been removed from the study, according to City Service Director, Chris Moore.

At the beginning of the study, Penny Cochenour, a resident living on Sunset Avenue, was nervous about the removal of that specific signal.

“I can just picture myself making a 9-1-1 call because there’s been an accident here,” Cochenour said. “Sunset is in between the south end and the east end. It’s very well-traveled, and I’m just really concerned about the children that play on this street.”

She said there has been multiple crashes during the 90-day period when the lights were flashing.

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One of the crashes happened on Aug. 19 and knocked one person unconscious.

Cochenour is relieved the signal has been removed from the study because of the fear of additional crashes.

She said the light was turned back on around noon on Aug. 28.

“I think that we won,” Cochnour said. “I’m real pleased that the city payed attention to what we were saying.”

During the 60-day period, if there are no increases in traffic-related incidents, the signals will be removed, according to news release from the city.

If the signals are removed, some drivers will be happy with this change.

Dan Overholser said the light at Montgomery and Pleasant is unnecessary — and a stop sign would do the job just fine.

“I’m ready for these lights to come down,” he said. “It’s a waste of time sitting here waiting on them to change.”

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