ISHPEMING — The Michigan Department of Transportation will be upgrading several traffic signals in the central and western Upper Peninsula this summer.

According to the Keweenaw Report, MDOT is investing about $750,000 in traffic signal upgrades at a total of eight different locations. These projects will result in various improvements to traffic signal visibility along with increasing pedestrian and vehicle safety and mobility.

“That’s why we put traffic signals in, primarily as to improve mobility, and there’s the safety aspect of it as well,” said Traffic Engineer Joel Kauppila. “They are up to the modern standard; motorists will notice some of the improvements to the signals in Marquette and also in Houghton County.”

There are a total of eight projects that are expected to be completed by the end of October. The first project will be converting the four–way stop at M–553 and Grove Street in Marquette to a normal traffic signal.