ESCANABA – Two intersections in Escanaba and one in Iron Mountain soon will be controlled with new flashing yellow arrow left-turn signals for greater safety and efficiency. The following signals will be operational beginning next week:

• US-2/US-41/M-35 at Danforth Road in Escanaba – MAP LOCATION

• US-2/US-41/M-35 at 5th Avenue North in Escanaba – MAP LOCATION

• US-2 at H Street in Iron Mountain – MAP LOCATION

The new signals will regulate highway traffic making left turns onto city streets.

MDOT spokesman James Lake says national studies have shown that the flashing yellow arrow signal is safer and more efficient. They are being introduced nationwide, and will be required at all intersections that currently have a separate left-turn arrow signal.

The new signal head has four lights and four phases. The first phase, a flashing yellow arrow, allows traffic to turn left when oncoming traffic is clear, comparable to a flashing red signal in a turn lane. During this phase, oncoming traffic will have a green light.

The second phase, a steady green arrow, allows traffic to turn left. If no left-turning traffic is present, the steady green arrow phase is skipped.

Phase three is a steady yellow arrow, warning that the signal is about to change to red. Motorists in the steady yellow phase should prepare to stop or prepare to complete the left turn if they are legally in the intersection and there is no conflicting traffic present. The fourth phase, a steady red arrow, requires motorists in the turn lane to stop.

More information on the new signal can be found on MDOT’s Web site.