The Montana Department of Transportation last week installed new flashing lights on U.S. 2 West near Smith Valley School to improve the safety of the crosswalk along the busy highway.

The state is in the midst of a years-long process to redesign the intersection of U.S. 2 and Batavia Lane. Adding Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons to increase visibility at the crosswalk is the first safety measure to go into effect there.

The beacons are a set of two user-activated flashing lights on either side of the crosswalk that alert motorists to the presence of pedestrians. They were added on U.S. 2 because of concerns about the safety of schoolchildren crossing the highway to get to and from Smith Valley School.

“They’re just to help the kids have a safer crossing and catch the drivers’ eyes,” said Bob Vosen, District Administrator for the Montana Department of Transportation Missoula District.

State representatives are working with community members to draw up a plan for a major overhaul of the complicated intersection, but it could be three to six years before that goes into place, Vosen said.

When the transportation department held an open house at Smith Valley School to collect input from stakeholders in March, Vosen said children’s safety emerged as the top priority.

The state then decided to install the flashing lights at the crosswalk as a temporary safety measure at a cost of close to $10,000 while they work on developing a permanent solution. They are solar-powered and will be able to be repurposed to another intersection once the Batavia Lane intersection is remodeled.

The state has installed similar technology at the Somers Boat Launch and on U.S. 93 in Lakeside.

Vosen explained Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are a good fit for this particular crosswalk because visibility can be tough for drivers heading west around sunset, and lights help improve visibility. He pointed out, too, that the elementary school children who often use the crosswalk aren’t always easily visible to drivers, so the flashing lights should help draw drivers’ attention.

“It’s a situation where we’re trying to improve visibility and alertness of drivers,” Vosen said.

It’s a tricky spot, too, because there are turn lanes going multiple directions, so pedestrians and vehicles can sometimes be obstructed by vehicles in the turn lanes. Vosen is hopeful the flashing lights will help to increase overall awareness about pedestrians in the area and encourage drivers to slow down.

The speed limit near Smith Valley School is 45 mph, although there is a misconception that the reduced speed limit there only applies when the speed limit sign has its lights on, Vosen explained.

Vosen met with classes at Smith Valley School last week to teach the students about using the flashing beacons safely. He stressed students crossing the road should look both ways, even if the beacons are activated, and try to wave and make eye contact with drivers to make sure motorists see the children before they cross.

Vosen said the state expects to finalize a plan for the intersection redesign early in 2021. Officials currently are mulling over installing raised medians, a stoplight, or a roundabout. Right now, he said his team is looking into whether any of the proposed options has a “fatal flaw” that would make it ineligible for the location.

Funding hasn’t been secured for the project yet.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.