Ely Drivers Struggle With MnDOT Six-Week Flashing-Red Signal Test

Drivers in Ely are finding themselves at unfamiliar four-way stops after the Minnesota Department of Transportation temporarily converted two signalized intersections on Sheridan Street to flashing-red operation. The change, which treats the lights as all-way stops, has already produced enforcement activity and motorist confusion in the first days of the test.

The conversions affect Sheridan Street at Central Avenue and Sheridan Street at Third Avenue East, the town’s two remaining stoplights. City clerk-treasurer and operations director Harold Langowski said, “As they stated at the hearing, they’re going to have a four-way stop. The signal lights at Central and at Third Avenue East will be on flashing reds, and they’ll also be installing stop signs.” In the winter trial, the stop signs were placed in addition to flashing signals to formalize all-way stop procedures.

Langowski described the winter phase as brief and focused. “That will go on for about six weeks,” he said. “It will be the first week of February through the second week of March.” MnDOT has also scheduled a second evaluation during the busy season: “They’ll be looking again during the busy season in July and August and looking at a four-way stop again,” Langowski said.

The agency’s move follows review of traffic counts, crash data and other information that led MnDOT to conclude the existing signals had reached the end of their useful life and to recommend long-term changes. MnDOT officials expressed a preference for mini-roundabouts at both intersections at a public hearing last fall, but no state funds are currently budgeted to remove the traffic signals and install mini-roundabouts. For now, the signals remain in place while MnDOT gathers more performance data on four-way stop control: “For the foreseeable future, those signalized intersections will remain, but they want to get more data on how those will perform in a four-way stop intersection,” Langowski said.

Enforcement issues surfaced soon after the test began. The Ely Police Department reported multiple violations early in the test and posted about them on social media. Langowski said he has discussed public safety and driver adjustments with Police Chief Chad Houde as city officials monitor compliance. Many residents and attendees at last fall’s hearing expressed skepticism about removing signals and installing roundabouts, and local officials are watching how driver behavior adapts. “People will want to roll those stop signs out of habit,” Langowski observed.

For Ely motorists, the immediate takeaway is pragmatic: treat the flashing reds as all-way stops, yield appropriately, and expect officers to be watching for violations during the trial. MnDOT will collect data this winter and revisit the configuration in July and August before any permanent changes or state-funded roundabout projects move forward.