Four-way stoplights two blocks west of Newton’s square are going to be replaced with stop signs for east and west traffic. On Tuesday, Newton’s City Council unanimously approved the change, which was recommended by Public Works Director Joe Grife. He says the four stoplights at West 4th Street North and North 2nd Avenue West were installed in 1993 to assist with traffic to and from the former Maytag Office building that’s just north of the intersection. He says replacing them will cost between $250,000 and $300,000, and the current traffic count does not warrant stoplights. 

“They would have to double the amount of cars there for it to be warranted. If we were to go to stop signs, we wouldn’t have the monthly cost for electricity and minimal maintenance. Logistically, this makes all the sense in the world. These were put in when Maytag was here for that traffic pattern, and we just don’t have that now with the different uses in the area.”  

Grife says the current traffic count at West 4th Street North and North 2nd Avenue West is now just over 60 cars per hour, and the cost of removing the traffic signals is expected to be approximately $25,000. Exactly when the change will occur has yet to be determined.