Fifth and Sherman light coming down

COEUR d'ALENE - The signal at Fifth Street and Sherman Avenue will be decommissioned starting this week after stop signs are installed on Fifth Street.

A review by the city's engineering department shows that the vehicle and pedestrian cross traffic is minimal and that the signal is not really warranted.

The signal is more than 20 years old and is not traffic-actuated. Therefore, it must run on a predetermined time which does not respond to actual traffic volumes or movement, making it extremely inefficient.

Eliminating the signal will improve traffic progression on Sherman Avenue and improve the service to the side streets without compromising safety.

A review of the intersection at Sixth Street and Sherman Avenue revealed that the vehicle and pedestrian traffic is exactly the same as the Fifth and Sherman intersection, and that there were very few accidents.

Poles and mast arms will be completely removed on the corners that don't have street lights, leaving just the poles where there is a street light on them. The "Walk/Don't Walk" indicators will also be removed (similar to Sixth Street).