City hopes to improve traffic flow with new controller device

The installation of a new traffic controller at the corner of William Street and West End Boulevard should be completed today after a temporary four-way stop situation seemed to confuse motorists Wednesday.

The controller is more technically advanced than the old one and will make traffic move more rapidly, said Chris Graff of Cotner Electric, which was awarded the contract.

The new controller will also be compatible with the city's other traffic lights, according to Tim Gramling, assistant public works director. The Missouri Department of Transportation once maintained the device, but the city took it over four years ago.

Gramling said the new one will be easier for the city to maintain because it is similar to most of the others in the city.

Whether or not there was a problem with traffic or the light at that intersection is debatable.

"I've never been backed up there," said Dan Rohrdanz, an employee at JD's gas station and convenience store. "I think the traffic runs pretty good."

Stephanie Martin disagreed.

"It's too slow, especially the left-turn signal," she said.

Costing $8,300

The city is replacing the controller at a cost of $8,300.

Motorists will not notice a change immediately, Gramling said.

On Tuesday, some motorists seemed bewildered with the four-way stop situation. Stop signs were placed in the middle of the intersection and at the corners.

Wednesday afternoon, during a time when the lights were not flashing, one woman traveling north on West End almost got hit and pointed in frustration at the light when the car she almost hit drove around her car. A few minutes later, another motorist got honked at for not knowing when to proceed.

Returning to normal

Gramling said he did not hear any complaints.

"We got the stop signs out there as well as we could," he said.

"And the contractor has a couple of signs up the road to give people a heads up. But we're looking at having everything back to normal by the end of the day."

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127