Lehighton can eventually replace an archaic blinking light at the intersection of Second and Iron streets with a four-way stop sign.

Borough engineer Vanessa Nedrick, of Remington & Vernick Engineers, informed borough council on Monday that the borough received an email from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Aug. 26.

Nedrick said the request to move the flashing signal was approved and the borough can move forward with an all-way stop sign at that intersection.

But before it can do so, borough solicitor Jim Nanovic stressed that an ordinance change would have to take place so that the residents can get used to this new stop sign.

“I know the people going up and down Iron Street aren’t going to notice the stop signs right away,” Nanovic said.

In June, borough council on a 6-0 vote awarded a contract for the administration of Remington & Vernick Engineers to perform a traffic report for the intersection of Second and Iron streets in an amount not to exceed $7,840.

Before the vote, then borough Manager Dane DeWire said it would cost about $48,000 to install a new blinking light at the intersection.

DeWire added that they’ve heard many concerns from crossing guards, and that a four-way stop makes more sense than a traffic light.

Nedrick previously said the permit for that intersection goes back to 1968.

Lynette Moyer, who has been a crossing guard for over 20 years, said her concern is that parking is bad on Iron Street.

DeWire said the issue is that people see the green light at the top of the hill and try to make a beeline to get through.

At May’s council meeting, council said it was looking into new traffic signals to replace the outdated setups at two intersections in the borough.

DeWire previously said the borough’s Light & Power Department received proposals for the implementation of new traffic signals with more industry-standard poles and flashers to replace the outdated setups at the intersections of Iron and Second, as well as Mahoning and Fourth.

Mayor Ryan Saunders mentioned the line of sight at two points of the intersection, and agreed that a four-way stop could prevent further incidents.

After that meeting, DeWire said the proposals received were nearly $50,000 for each intersection.

DeWire noted the borough partners regularly with traffic signal contractors, but ultimately, the signals are owned and operated by the municipality.