PERRYVILLE INTERSECTIONS TO GET SIGNALS

PERRYVILLE -- New traffic lights along Highway 51 should alleviate some congestion in Perryville.

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Department soon will begin a project here to install lights at the intersections of highways 51 and 61 and 51 and Route T.

After surveying traffic at both intersections, the department decided installing lights was the best solution to the problem, said Steven Hoernig, assistant director of maintenance and engineering.

The project will cost $195,225 and should improve the Route T intersection by dedicating a lane for left turns along Highway 51. A left-turn lane already exits on Route T.

Work will begin this spring on both projects, which should be finished by late summer.

There is always an adjustment for drivers when signals begin working, Hoernig said. "But we always have more accidents than we should," he said, adding that signs will warn drivers of the lights.

"It's already a four-way stop," he said of both intersections. "When it's a two-way and they aren't used to a stop, then we have problems."