New stoplight to be activated Monday

Starting Monday, April 18, Holton will officially be a three-stoplight town.

Holton Street Superintendent Rex Cameron said Monday that the new traffic light located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 (Arizona Avenue) and Banner Road will be “activated and fully operational” sometime before 3 p.m. this coming Monday.

The traffic signal has been placed at the intersection due to construction of the westward extension of Banner Road that leads to the new Walmart, which is currently under construction and is expected to be open later this spring or summer.

“As Walmart is getting closer to completion, there will be an increase in truck traffic going in and out of there,” Cameron said. “With the Walmart contractor finishing the paving of their parking lot, and then with all of the Walmart trucks coming in and out, stocking the new store, we feel the need to go ahead and get the signals operational for the safety of the traveling public.”

King’s Construction of Oskaloosa, which built the Banner Road extension and traffic turning lanes on southbound Arizona Avenue going west into the extension, also set up the traffic signal at the intersection. Representatives from King’s Construction will be present to join city officials for the signal activation, it was reported.

Holton’s other two traffic signals are located at the intersection of Arizona Avenue and Fourth Street (the intersection of U.S. 75 and Kansas Highway 16) and at the intersection of Fourth and New York Avenue on Holton’s Town Square.