More cities going solar to power up signs

From an article in the Fond du Lac Reporter:

Growing numbers of cities and towns are turning to solar-powered road warning and school safety signs to inform the public and save money and energy.

Similar signs were installed in Fond du Lac locations seven years ago.

Illuminated stop signs powered by the sun are in place at Sixth and Park streets and solar-powered school crossing signs are in place near Riverside School, said Fond du Lac Police Department Capt. Steve Klein.

"They are a good visual reminder," he said, "and have proven to be quite effective."

When the Highway 151 Bypass was plagued with accidents shortly after it opened around Fond du Lac several years ago, the city installed LED solar signs along the route, said Fond du Lac Department of Public Works Director Mark Lentz.

But the Wisconsin Department of Transportation quickly notified the city the signs were not approved for use on a state highway and sternly requested the city take them down, Lentz recalled.

"Well, we were having problems on the Bypass and we thought the signs could help, so we left them up," he said. "The DOT had a maintenance person come and take them down and leave them at my office. We put them back up and then we didn't hear back from the DOT."