New stop signs

The traffic light at Third Street and Clay Avenue is one of three downtown slated for removal. Clay Avenue traffic now stops while Third Street traffic has the right-of-way.

(Lynn Moore | MLive)

MUSKEGON, MI - The transition of several downtown intersections from traffic lights to stop signs is about to become permanent.

The city of Muskegon has already instituted changes at the intersections of Fourth Street and Western Avenue, Third Street and Clay Avenue, and First Street and Muskegon Avenue.

The changes are part of an ongoing effort to improve traffic flow in the city center. Traffic lights were replaced with stop signs earlier on Muskegon and Webster avenues as part of their reconstruction.

In late winter, the First and Muskegon intersection was changed to a three-way stop. First Street is one-way at that intersection.

In early summer, the Third and Clay intersection was switched to a two-way stop, with traffic in both directions stopping on Clay Avenue and Third Street traffic having the right-of-way without stopping.

Most recently, the traffic light at Fourth and Western was switched to flashing red for all directions and four-way stop signs were erected.

In all three instances, the traffic lights will be removed and permanent stop signs installed.

Replacing traffic lights with stop signs improves traffic flow and lessens fuel waste by eliminating unnecessary idling. All-way stops also help control traffic speed.