By Martin J. Kidston
Motorists who frequently travel Fifth Avenue may have encountered some temporary confusion on their Tuesday commute. It seems road crews have reconfigured the way traffic flows at the popular 10th Street intersection. For many, the changes may be long overdue, while for others, they were simply unexpected.
Neil Swartz of the Montana Department of Transportation said Crews will be in and around the intersection throughout the week, trying to ease traffic strains on the heavily used thoroughfare.
We changed the turning bay on the south-bound traffic, and the north-bound traffic is the same as its always been, Swartz said. The idea is not to hold up south bound traffic any more than necessary.
Swartz said there will be new signs and pavement markings in place by weeks end, but the traffic lights will stay the same.
Were waiting on some signs, but the pavement markings will be put in place this week, he said.
The Fifth Avenue and 10th Street intersection project was included in the citys long range strategic plan. During the public meetings held earlier this year, the intersection had been a point of focus during talks of boosting the citys urban roadways, and many called for the intersections redesign. They will get their way by the end of the week.
According to studies, the average daily traffic count at certain points along Fifth Avenue has more than doubled over the past two decades.
