Stop signs on Norfolk Avenue to become a permanent part of traffic control

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Months after testing out four-way stops on Norfolk Avenue, both intersections will be keeping their stop signs.

The decision was made Monday evening during the Norfolk City Council meeting. The intersections of 2nd and 3rd Streets with Norfolk avenue had their street lights turned off and stop signs put in back on October 17th.

The idea at the time was to install the signs and later evaluate the effectiveness the changes had on traffic control in addition to pedestrian safety. During the Monday meeting, many community members and business owners came and spoke in support of keeping the stop signs in place, but no one from the public spoke out against them at the meeting.

When the initial decision to put in the stop signs was made, the council was split on the decision. Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning had to cast a tie-breaking vote in approval for the stop signs. Since then attitudes have changed, with the city council this time voting unanimously in support of keeping the four-way stops. 

The plan in the future is to have the street lights permanently removed and maintain the four-way stop signs at these two intersections, officials said at the meeting.