The malfunctioning traffic lights at the Quilchena Avenue and Garcia Street intersection will replaced with four-way stop signs.
By a 4-2 vote, after last Tuesday’s regular meeting, city council approved the public works department’s suggestion to decommission the traffic lights in favour of stop signs.
The traffic lights at the intersection have been flashing red for months.
When not working properly, the lights flash red in a default mode signaling to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
In a report to council from public works manager Shawn Boven, he states that his department has experienced difficulty and escalating costs in trying to keep the traffic lights in working order.
Two independent signalization companies have tried to repair the lights, but have advised the city that is no longer possible, the report stated.
It would cost approximately $125,000 to replace the traffic lights with new ones, the council report stated.
Coun. Ginny Prowal suggested leaving the flashing red lights as a four way stop until they burn out, an idea supported by Coun. Dave Baker.
Coun. Kurt Christopherson, however, said he liked the idea of putting in the stop signs to provide consistency between The Quilchena Avenue intersection with Garcia Street and the Coutlee Avenue one a block away.
Financial services manager Ken Ostraat said there is a maintenance cost associated with running the traffic lights.
Councillors Brown, Christopherson, and Prowal, as well as Mayor Menard, voted to approve tearing down the lights to install stop signs, with councillors Baker and Goetz voting against that option.
Coun. Diana Norgaard was not in attendance.
