Crosswalks at Warsaw grade schools and downtown will be upgraded to make streets safer for pedestrians and drivers.
The Warsaw Street Department purchased 48 new crosswalk signals in March from Traffic Control Corp., Granger, according to Street Superintendent Lacy Francis.
The crosswalk signals show a countdown to the end of the walk phase allowing pedestrians to gauge the time they have to cross the street.
Jim Martin, Warsaw traffic control specialist, and Troy Skees, Warsaw electrician, began installing the new crosswalk signals at the corner of Lincoln and Center streets Monday morning.
The new signals will first be installed at Warsaw grade schools and at six Warsaw crosswalk intersections including Center and Bronson streets, Center and Scott streets, Center and Lincoln streets, Winona Avenue and Scott Street, Winona Avenue and Bronson Street, and Center and Argonne streets.
Plans also will be to install the signs at downtown crosswalks on Center, Market, Indiana, Buffalo and Lake streets, Francis said.
There will be eight crosswalk signs installed at each intersection.
The cost of the project is $20,000. Martin said the project should be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.
"The countdown signal helps pedestrians to visualize the time it takes to cross a street safely," Martin said.
Skees said many pedestrians are confused by the current walk/don't walk signals, and hopes the new signals will solve the confusion.
Martin and Skees attended a conference in November in Chicago sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and learned about the crosswalk signals. Indiana communities attended the conference and discussed ways to improve traffic safety. The crosswalk signs were recommended.
Francis told the Warsaw Traffic Commission during its Feb. 1 meeting that the street department was looking into upgrading crosswalk signage in the city.
Francis said current signals in downtown are faded, showing their age, and difficult to see in bright sunlight.
"The crosswalk signage upgrade will make streets safer for pedestrians by providing a crosswalk countdown," Francis said.
He also said the current walk/don't walk signals do no meet "Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices" standards which call for man/hand icon indicators.
Francis said cities such as Indianapolis and West LaFayette currently have the signals. South Bend is scheduled to install the signals this year.
Traffic Commission member Ann Sweet will visit Jefferson, Eisenhower, Madison and Lincoln elementary schools in May to provide crosswalk safety discussions with students.
Sweet said she hopes these discussions will educate school children about traffic safety.
"Our children are our most important and precious possessions and we as adults have the responsibility to protect them to the very best of our abilities," Sweet said.
