News Photo by Torianna Marasco The sun sets behind houses near the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Bagley Street/Hobbs Drive on Thursday. Motorists are learning to navigate the intersection’s new traffic light system that the city changed in hopes of increasing public safety.

ALPENA — Motorists in Alpena are still learning how to navigate the new traffic light system at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Bagley Street/Hobbs Drive, and some motorists are frustrated that it takes too long to pass through the light.

The changes to the traffic light system, which is near Alpena High School and Thunder Bay Junior High School, were made to protect motorists and pedestrians.

Over the years, there have been many crashes at the intersection including several involving school buses. A pedestrian was also struck and injured.

In a press release Wednesday, the city said it has received correspondence from some motorists who claim they wait too long to pass through the intersection and also that the green light doesn’t stay on long enough.

In the press release, the city said that when the intersection was designed and constructed, it was done so before the junior high school was built. It was not originally designed for the traffic load it receives now because of the increased traffic before and after school.

The city explained how and why the new system works as it does, urged both drivers and pedestrians to be patient, and that the system is operating as it is supposed to.

The new system has a safe passing feature designed to allow vehicles to more safely navigate through the intersection and traffic in the area. It also increases the wait time to make sure traffic can clear.

Some people questioned why the green light only stays on for 10 seconds and why it isn’t longer. The city said that is on par with most similar traffic lights and adding time would cause more traffic congestion in the area.

“While this may seem to be a short duration, it is standard for most traffic signals,” the press release said. “Any extension of timing on this leg would increase wait times on the other segments and would cause further traffic backups in the area.”

The new traffic system also makes red-light turns illegal because the new sequence countdown allows pedestrians to safely walk across the street.

The city also asked people not to call 911 or ask local police to utilize an officer to direct traffic if traffic backups occur.

“The overall goal of installing the new traffic light is pedestrian safety and was not intended to shorten commute times,” the press release said.

The city said it, along with its contractors and consultants, will continue to work on the operations and utilize the most efficient sequences for the new traffic light.

“We ask that motorists be patient and plan additional time for their commute through this area and remember that pedestrian and student safety are the top priority,” the city said in its press release.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.