Changes at an Albert Lea Intersection

Article from abc 6 news kaaltv.com - Andrew Lovelette, ABC 6 NEWS - 5:10 p.m., November 14, 2011

Drivers and pedestrians using a busy intersection in Albert Lea are noticing some changes.

This after a nearby company took the initiative to make it safer.

More than a year ago, this was the scene in front of the Lou Rich Company on West Front Street in Albert Lea.

An 82-year old man was hit while crossing the street and later died.

"It's not the type of publicity that the company wants is for them having someone injured in our crosswalk," said LaVerne Schroeder, safety environmental coordinator, for the Lou Rich, Co.

That accident prompted Schroeder to look at ways to improve the safety of the crosswalk.

"Where it's located at you have a curve in the road, you have a hill just beforehand and then you have another intersection about a quarter of a block down so this location poses some issues," said Lt. Jeff Strom, of the Albert Lea Police Department.

With help from police , the company decided to purchase and install a new state of the art crosswalk.

"Before you enter out into the traffic or the street, it's an automated system, so it comes on and will set for a pre-determined number of seconds," said Schroeder.

The company had to receive special permission from Mn/DOT to install the LED light bar system, which is the first non solar powered system in the state.

The crosswalk has been up less than a week, but is already getting good reviews.

Schroeder said, "We've had employees that are say our night shift people, drive by here by day and they've come up to me and told me and told me that this thing is extremely bright. You can see it from two blocks away when it's running."

"These look very nice. I haven't seen them at night yet, but during the day they seem quite bright.

I've tried them out and people seem to recognize them and stop ahead of time for them so I think it will be a good addition for them down here," said Strom.

The new crosswalk cost the Lou Rich Co. over $9,000.

They plan to donate it to the city, which will then take over maintenance.