The city is spending about $3,000 to install two new LED stop signs at a Columbus intersection prone to accidents.
Dave Hayward, Columbus executive director of public works and city engineer, said he received a call about an increasing number of accidents occurring at the intersection of 11th and Franklin streets in downtown Columbus.
Hayward verified the claim by looking at accident data and finding that many people failed to stop at the east and west stop signs at the intersection.
In 2016, three crashes were recorded with two being caused by a driver’s failure to stop, city officials said. In both 2017 and 2018, two accidents were recorded each year — one in 2017 and one in 2018 were caused by a driver’s failure to stop.
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“Part of the problem is westbound traffic is looking ahead to the traffic signal at Washington Street,” Hayward said. “It’s already a four-way stop, so there’s not a lot of options, but we’re going to try something.”
City employees installed two new stop signs with LED lights on the right side of 11th Street facing east and west. Standard stop signs were also placed on the left sides of the street a few years ago as an effort to solve the problem, Hayward said. Those standard stop signs will remain.
The two new stop signs are solar-powered and flashing LED lights run along the perimeter of the sign. Each LED stop sign costs about $1,500 as opposed to standard stop signs that Hayward said cost less than $100.
Hayward said the two new signs are being funded by the city and engineering department’s operating budget.
“We don’t want to install them anywhere we don’t need to,” Hayward said. “They’re very costly. We’re going to be judicious about where we place them.”
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Contact the Columbus Traffic Department at 812-376-2518 for:
SIGHT DISTANCE ISSUES:
If you see a stop sign blocked by limbs or tree too big to see around at an intersection, call 812-376-2509.
STREET/STOP SIGNS:
The Columbus Traffic Department repairs and replaces damaged signs. If you are requesting a new sign or a physically challenged sign, contact the Columbus Engineering Department at 812-376-2540.
TRAFFIC SIGNALS:
The Columbus Traffic Department repairs signals on city streets, however it does not repair signals that intersect with state highways.
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