Light improvements ahead

SIKESTON - The Missouri Department of Transportation will work on traffic lights in Sikeston beginning Tuesday.

Weather permitting, work is set to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday to make improvements to signals located at the intersections of Main Street and Malone Avenue. Improvements will also be made to signals at Selma, Pine and Tanner streets. The improvements are being made partially as routine maintenance and to upgrade the system to present standards.

"The signals are currently connected to a master phone line that keeps them coordinated," said MoDOT Traffic Operations Engineer Mark Phillips. "The new equipment will replace that system with an internal system that runs individually based on the time of day." He said although the upgrade will require an adjustment period, motorists should not notice a change in the signals.

"It may take a few days for the signal coordination to return to normal. The signals will also be flashing part of the day as a result of the equipment changes."

While the signal crew is working, some signals will be completely turned off. During this process, an officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety will direct traffic.

Motorists are urged to use extreme caution near the work zones.