(Arnolds Park)– Another city in the lakes corridor is addressing timing issues with its stoplights. The Arnolds Park City Council Wednesday approved a proposal to replace detection systems at each set of stoplights through the city at a total cost of $52,500.
The systems became faulty after being installed in recent years as part of the Highway 71 project through Arnolds Park and Okoboji. Temporary repairs were made to the systems but officials say those repairs are just that: temporary. The new system will feature additional cameras at each intersection and will also utilize a radar system to better detect vehicles at intersections in order to trigger the stoplights on a more timely basis to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible. It will also give police the ability to retrieve video evidence in the event of accidents or criminal activity.
As we reported previously, the city of Okoboji is also installing the updated technology at each of its signaled intersections.
Officials in both cities say without the new system, there’s a high risk of massive traffic backups throughout the lakes Highway 71 corridor. Backups have already been an issue at some intersections.
