Motorists in the Perry area will notice some new traffic lights and patterns downtown starting this week.

Now that the Highway 144 and Willis Avenue intersection improvement project is complete, traffic is free flowing through the busy intersection but the City and Perry Police Department urge everyone to be patient.

Instead of Highway 144 being a four lane highway heading north and south, the road is now a three lane between Otley Avenue and Bateman Street.  The center lane is for left turns only and though the number of lanes has decreased, experts believe this is a safer and faster configuration.

Like heavily traveled intersections in the metro, the left lane’s light will flash with a yellow arrow.  This means drivers need to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians and the proceed with caution as oncoming traffic has a green light.

Drivers and pedestrians are asked to take extra precautions at the intersection and be aware of their surroundings.