Plum & Main Street Intersection

One simple change could soon make a big difference for walkers crossing the busy Plum and Main Street intersection in Red Wing.

Last week, the Red Wing City Council directed staff to ask the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to add a system that would give pedestrians a head start on crossing.

After a pedestrian presses the crossing button on either side of Main Street, the next crossing signal will activate 3 to 4 seconds before vehicles on Plum Street get a green light.

This allows people crossing the street to be more visible to drivers turning from Plum onto Main.

It's a low-cost solution that can be done relatively quickly by MnDOT, which is responsible for the signal.

The system is expected to be ready and available for pedestrians to use this spring or summer.