The traffic signals at Sunshine Street and Plaza Avenue in Springfield are scheduled to return to normal operation the morning of Tuesday, August 24, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.
The intersection will be re-striped, starting after 10 p.m. Monday, August 23. The signals will be operating again before Tuesday morning rush hour.
Rain or wet pavement will delay the project.
MoDOT, in consultation with the City of Springfield, had placed the signals on flash in mid-June to see whether the signals could be turned off to improve traffic flow along Sunshine Street without causing other traffic problems.
Traffic engineers observed traffic at the intersection on various days and at various times of the day.
Comments from business owners and patrons along Sunshine Street and and residents of the neighborhoods north and south of Sunshine Street were collected. Many people expressed concerns for safety should the intersection, with Plaza Avenue approaches off set from each other, no longer be signalized.
MoDOT decided to return the signals to full operation. This once again will give drivers a protected turn onto Sunshine Street from Plaza Avenue and will help create gaps in traffic along Sunshine Street for people entering and leaving business driveways.
Delays for drivers on Sunshine Street will be minimal, as before, with traffic on Sunshine Street getting the most green-light time.
No right-turns will be allowed on red from Plaza Avenue onto Sunshine Street.
Sunshine Street east of Glenstone Avenue is a state highway -- Route D.
