Paving work to begin on Havens as road construction continues

• New traffic lights

The new traffic light at Havens Avenue and Burr Street in Mitchell utilizes a yellow flashing turn signal instead of a solid green signal in the turning lane for left turns. A flashing yellow arrow means left turns are permitted, but drivers must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before proceeding with caution. (Chris Huber/Republic)

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The state Department of Transportation is installing flashing yellow turn arrows in traffic lights on Havens Avenue along the Interstate 90 loop in Mitchell.

The new signals will be located on Havens Avenue at the intersections of Burr Street, Rowley Street, Sanborn Boulevard, Minnesota Street and Ohlman Street.

A flashing yellow arrow means left turns are permitted, but drivers must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before proceeding with caution. The new system replaces the solid green “ball” indication as a signal for motorists to proceed through the intersection.

The solid yellow arrow means motorists should prepare to stop or complete left turns if they are in the intersection.

The change to flashing yellow arrows is the result of a national study conducted for the Federal Highway Administration, which demonstrated that the new signals help prevent left turn crashes.

Meanwhile, construction along Havens Avenue is ongoing and progressing nicely, according to a bimonthly Department of Transportation update issued Thursday.

While traffic is maintained in both directions on Havens, traffic signal work is nearly complete. The intersections of Burr, Sanborn and Minnesota have operational traffic signals. The DOT expects signal work to continue for the next few weeks.

Sidewalk, curb and gutter work is 80 percent complete. In a few weeks, the DOT will begin backfilling sidewalks and curb and gutters. Once traffic signal installation is done, the remaining sidewalk work will be completed.

The DOT started planning Monday for concrete paving on Havens, which will be completed early next week. Asphalt paving will follow in early October.

The DOT expects to place pavement markings on Burr Street in late September or early October, which will require lane closures. Also, concrete repair, crack-sealing and pavement-marking work on the state Highway 37 bypass is postponed until next week.

This will also require lane closures.

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