Hutchinson to turn off, then remove, traffic signal at 5th and Poplar

Drivers at 5th Avenue and Poplar Street will find the traffic lights covered and dark starting Monday, Dec. 7, the first step in Hutchinson's plan to remove a signal the city says is no longer needed.

According to a City of Hutchinson announcement posted Thursday, Oct. 29, the signal heads will be bagged, or covered so the lights are off. They will stay in place for at least 90 days while the city monitors traffic conditions and safety. Full removal of the signal poles is scheduled for March 2027.

The city said a recent traffic engineering evaluation found the signal is no longer warranted, meaning the intersection no longer meets the standards for a traffic light, based on current traffic volumes, safety considerations and national standards. In low-traffic areas, the city said, signals can cause unnecessary delays and contribute to rear-end collisions, risks it says stop signs or other controls reduce. The announcement does not give traffic counts or crash figures for the intersection.

The city said its aging equipment would otherwise need upgrades estimated at $305,039, including signal poles, and that removal will save about $1,500 a year: $800 in electricity and $700 in maintenance.

A Public Works department recommendation presented to the City Council in late October cited the signal's age, repair frequency and the cost to modernize it as reasons for removal. The city removed several other signals in mid-2026 for the same stated reasons of improving safety and avoiding maintenance and upgrade costs.

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