Ward Five Alderman Tom Smith waits to turn left onto Magee Drivefrom Brookway Boulevard.

The traffic light is green but a steady flow of eastboundtraffic prevents the turn.

“You’re likely to sit here and the light change two or threetimes before you can go, especially in the afternoon,” Smithsaid.

The intersection is one of several being reviewed by cityofficials as they try to improve traffic flow on Brookhaven’sbusiest street.

Mayor Bob Massengill said he plans to present a traffic signalproposal to aldermen at their April 5 meeting. The proposal wouldprovide lights for protected left turns at the Magee Drive andBrookhaven Street intersections.

“If the board approves it, we’ll move forward with that,”Massengill said.

Protected signals help traffic flow and reduce the chances ofaccidents from motorists crossing against oncoming traffic.

City officials have received a $15,650 estimate for new lightsat three intersections, including a protected left turn signal foreastbound traffic into the Wal-Mart Supercenter. The cost for justthe Brookhaven Street and Magee Drive intersections is around$12,500.

Massengill said money for the work is not in this year’s budget.However, he said the contractor had agreed to accept a partialpayment this year with the majority coming from the next budgetyear that starts Oct. 1.

The mayor said the signal work could be done in mid-May if theboard OKs the project at its next meeting.

In other Brookhaven traffic activities, Massengill hopes to meetwith Mississippi Department of Transportation officials in earlyApril to discuss several situations along Highway 51.

Topping the list are several requested improvements at theBrookway Boulevard intersection.

They involve lengthening the turn lane for eastbound trafficheading north and increasing the amount of time the turn signal isgreen. The turn lane is part of MDOT’s right of way and the signalduration is controlled by the state agency.

“We’re going to ask MDOT about making the left turn signal lastlonger than it is now,” Massengill said.

Massengill said lengthening the turn lane, which is in front ofa First Bank branch, would allow more cars to fit into it. In busytimes, vehicles back up into another boulevard lane, leaving onlyone lane for traffic heading toward Monticello Street.

“We need two lanes of traffic (there),” Massengill said.

Jimmy Furlow, departmental coordinator, said some trees couldstill be left in the intersection median.

“It’d change the look of it a little bit, but not very much,”Furlow said.

Some city officials have also voiced concerns about traffic flowat the Biglane Drive intersection on Highway 51 near King’sDaughters Medical Center. They would like to see a traffic signalplaced there.

“That’s a call MDOT has to make,” Massengill said.

Massengill said a no-turn sign for Highway 51 just beforeTillotson’ Service Station will also be requested. Rather thatturning onto West Chippewa Street into the station, Massengill saidsome southbound motorists try to turn into the station againstoncoming traffic.

“That’s not a safe situation,” Massengill said.