Lehighton has taken the next step to ensure a four-way stop at the intersection at Iron Street and South Second Street.

Borough council last week unanimously approved an ordinance amending a chapter modifying the intersection to a four-way stop.

The project will be done in phases. Once the four-way stop goes into effect, it will replace an outdated blinking light at the intersection.

It will begin with the removal of the flashing yellow light, and change to a red light for a brief period of time for the public to get accustomed to it.

From that point, the light will be removed and replaced with a four-way stop.

In September, borough engineer Vanessa Nedrick, of Remington and Vernick Engineers, informed council 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 the 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.

In June, council on a 6-0 vote awarded a contract for the administration of Remington and Vernick Engineers to perform a traffic report for the intersection 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 had 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 previously 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At its May meeting, council said it was looking into new traffic signals to replace the outdated setups at two intersections in the borough.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 and Power Department received proposals for the implementation of new traffic signals with more industry-standard poles and flashers to replace the outdated setups at Iron and Second, as well as at Mahoning and Fourth streets.

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.

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