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City council concerned about MDT light plan

Havre City Council has qualms about a state proposal to eliminate flashing lights on both sides of the traffic lights leading into Holiday Village Mall.

Montana Department of Transportation wants to remove the flashing lights contending they are no longer needed.

MDT asked the city to sign off on the proposal, but council members think the lights provide additional safety and voted unanimously Monday night against the idea.

Mayor Tim Solomon said Monday night the ultimate decision is up to MDT, and he’s uncertain if the city’s action will have any impact.

Solomon said state officials told him the flashing lights were installed when the traffic signal going into the mall was put in. The idea was that local drivers were not used to having a traffic signal there, so the flashing lights would warn them.

He said state officials told him they are not worried about out-of-town drivers. They will be looking for traffic signals, the mayor said.

But council members said the flashing lights provide warning to both area residents and through traffic.

Driving to the west, motorists going up the hill can’t see the mall traffic lights until it is almost too late. The flashing lights give them notice that they should slow down, Councilman Andrew Brekke said.

“To me, this is a safety issue,” said Councilwoman Terry Lilletvedt.

 

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