Pedestrian safety efforts bring new lights to West Fargo intersections

WEST FARGO — A handful of new turn signals are popping up across West Fargo as part of a city initiative to improve pedestrian safety around intersections that have been dangerous in the past.

Mike Bittner, director of strategic initiatives at Bolton & Menk, an engineering firm that often works with the city, said the overall vision to improve some of the city's busiest intersections began in 2021 when West Fargo completed a traffic safety study along Veterans Boulevard/Ninth Street East.

"Through that study, a vision was born to improve the traffic signals," Bittner said. He added the strategy to improve intersection safety would "encompass more than just 'no right turn on red' signs."

The study found nine pedestrian and bicycle crashes occurred along the corridor in the previous five