State could remove traffic light at popular Huron intersection

HURON — The state might green light a plan to remove a traffic light at a noteworthy Huron intersection.Meanwhile, many community members, according to a Register poll, are throwing up the proverbial stop sign with both hands, labeling this as a "bad idea" and "dangerous."Ohio Department of Transportation representatives want to take away the signal system at Berlin and Cleveland (U.S. 6) roads, near Marconi's Italian Restaurant, Mobil and Dairy Queen.The proposal also involves:• Placing stop signs on both sides of Berlin Road• Forgoing any sort of yielding device on Cleveland Road• Reconfiguring the intersection, without completely reconstructing it, so cars don't make wide, exaggerated turns from Berlin Road onto Cleveland Road and vice versa"The traffic lights aren't warranted there," said Huron city manager Andy White, referencing a conclusion from a previously commissioned traffic study. "The average daily traffic count was several thousand below the threshold. What it does qualify for is a two-way stop."For years, both state and city officials have wanted to upgrade this intersection in some fashion.The area came under intense public criticism in 2014, when officials suggested installing a roundabout, or traffic circle, there. They eventually opted against implementing a roundabout.Modern roundabouts typically don't have traffic signals or stop signs. Drivers must yield before entering the roundabout, and they can leave it once arriving at their desired exit point.Work at the aforementioned intersection could fold into a larger state-supported initiative to pave U.S. 6 between Jim Campbell Boulevard and By The Shores Drive. The $1.2 million project should start and end sometime later this year.It's not known when, or even if, the state could remove the traffic light. Before any major decisions occur, the state must host public forums to fully inform community members about the area's plans.An image shows what the reconfigured intersection of Berlin and Cleveland (U.S. 6) roads in Huron could look like.Friendly chatterThe Register recently asked its Facebook friends for their opinions on whether or not the traffic light at Berlin and Cleveland (U.S. 6) roads in Huron should be removed. The plan calls for placing stop signs on Berlin Road with traffic on Cleveland Road not yielding.A majority of the comments, about 60 in total, sided against removing the three-light device.Here are some of those responses:• Christy J. Munns: Please keep it! Trust me, I use regularly. Without (it, there is) going to be problems.• Gay Houck: Should be a four-way stop.• Carolyn Therese Ward: Keep it. With Cedar Point traffic, it's always crazy there.• Ashley Chutes: Nope. Bad idea. Keep the light.• Nick Nuhn: Keep it. You need to keep in mind all the trucks that pull out of Tiffin Avenue from the lime plant. I have sat there for 10 minutes trying to find a break in traffic from both directions to make a left-hand turn onto Cleveland Road. My only saving grace is that stoplight, which will stop the flow of traffic long enough that, if there's a break in the other lane, I can pull out• Jennifer Hensley: Bad, bad, bad idea• Erin Steinhour: They should keep it. I'm not sure how traffic lights work, but if they could change the timer to make the one on Berlin Road stay green for a little longer, that would be great. Taking my kid to school and picking her up you sometimes have to wait thought two to three lights because they're so short.• Patrick Fox: Make it into a roundabout.• Corey Michael: Keep it there. Not for fear of change but for fear of an increase in accidents and speeding. Could be a dangerous decision.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.A car passes through the intersection of Berlin Road and Cleveland Road on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.