LAKEPORT, Calif. – A project completed this fall has increased safety at one of the city of Lakeport's intersections.
The 20th Street crosswalk project introduced lights and a radio-controlled system to make the crossing safer where 20th and High streets meet.
The area, a few blocks over from the Lakeport Unified School District campus, is frequented by children walking to and from school.
The Lakeport City Council had been concerned about the site, said city Public Works Director Mark Brannigan.
“It was one of the council's projects that they wanted to see done,” he said.
Brannigan explained that the intersection has a sweep which reduces visibility. High Street goes around a corner where it meets 20th Street – which has a stop sign – before turning into Lakeshore Boulevard.
The council in May approved the project, and authorized the purchase of the push button-activated, solar-powered blinking pedestrian warning sign.
Particularly of concern to the council was the increase in children walking to school. That's the result of new district rules requiring that children live at least two miles away from school to qualify for bus service.
Initially, the sign was to be hard-wired, which would have required digging up the street and sidewalks in order to install the utilities for it, Brannigan said.
However, once school began this fall, Brannigan said the city didn't want to take on such a project and tear up the streets and sidewalks.
“It just turned out to be too much of a project,” he said.
As a result, Brannigan said the council authorized additional funds to make it a radio-controlled system, so no digging was necessary.
City Public Works staff installed the equipment to save money, with Brannigan reporting that the total cost came out to $6,200, which was paid for by the city's general fund. No grant funds were used.
The project was finished around mid-October, and so far appears to be working well, Brannigan said.
“It's brighter than I thought it would be,” he said, noting that the system uses LED lights.
In the early morning when children are walking in the area to get to school, “That's really when you want to get people’s attention,” Brannigan said.
Council members appear pleased with the outcome of the project.
Councilman Tom Engstrom noted at this week's city council meeting that the crosswalk lights can be seen from a half-mile away.
“That is a real lifesaver,” he said.
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