What's with the flashing stoplights?


The lights were flashing at the intersection of 5th Street and Sumner Avenue Tuesday morning at 8:20 a.m. That is not the norm. The lights are supposed to be the normal green, amber, red by that time of the day, but a sensor malfunction is raising havoc with the signals. Humboldt Independent photo.

By KENT THOMPSON
It used to be that the stoplights at the intersection of 5th Street and Sumner Avenue went into flashing amber or red mode overnight into the morning hours.
Now, the lights could be flashing just about any time of day.
There is also a problem with the stoplights at Taft Street North and 10th Avenue North. Those have also been on the fritz.
Humboldt City Administrator Travis Goedken said the issue with the lights at 5th Street and Sumner Avenue is an issue of timing sensors not “talking” to one another.
“The city street department has been working on the matter, but the lights are more than 30 years old and we can no longer get replacement parts,” Goedken said.
“We have priced out new equipment and it would cost $7,000 for each intersection. That doesn’t include the cost for new lights or a post, just the silver box (on the pole),” the city administrator said.
The issue at Taft Street North and 10th Avenue North is due to magnetic stripping, that identifies when a vehicle is stopped on Taft, wearing out.
The city is seeking public input on what they would like to see for traffic control in the downtown area. Read more about this story in this week's redesigned Humboldt Independent. Subscribe by clicking on the link on this page and like the Humboldt Newspapers on Facebook.

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