ADRIAN  — The Michigan Department of Transportation has approved a left turn signal for traffic turning from southbound Division Street onto U.S. 223 on the south side of Adrian.

The city and MDOT have been talking for several years about concerns at that intersection, MDOT spokesman Aaron Jenkins said.

Jenkins said a study was conducted in 2018 that did not end up recommending a left-turn signal, but a new study was just concluded that determined a signal is now warranted.

“There are a several key measures that are evaluated as part of a left turn phasing study,” Jenkins said. “They include left turn traffic volumes, how much through traffic the left turning vehicles encounter, left turn related crashes, and traffic delay. We also conduct a field visit to review conditions in the field.”

Earlier this year, a Clayton man was killed when the car he was riding in was attempting to turn left from U.S. 223 onto Division Street and was struck by a semi proceeding through the intersection on U.S. 223.

Traffic turning left in that direction did not meet MDOT’s threshold for recommending a left-turn signal in that direction, Jenkins said.

However, Jenkins said, MDOT is looking at other measures to improve safety for motorists turning from U.S. 223 onto Division. 

Now that the left-turn signal has been approved, Jenkins said, the project is moving into the design phase. The design phase can take one or two years to complete. Once design is finished, MDOT will move into construction.