New school zone signs now in place at Colton

-photo by Debbie Niehenke

Updated school zone warning signs were recently set up in Colton.

Colton’s school zone warning signs got a makeover early this week, after the state Department of Transportation ruled earlier this year they were not up to state standards.

DOT crews installed new, up-to-code signs last week. As of Tuesday afternoon, the signs, some of which flash to warn oncoming drivers on Highway 195 that they are approaching a school zone, were not yet plugged in.

Colton was awarded a $7,500 grant from the DOT this summer, money that paid for the signs and their maintenance.

The town of Colton and the Colton School District will each pay half the remaining $1,500 to install the signs.

“I didn’t think it was a problem in the past [the school zone signs], but I think it’s one more added measure to assure the safety of the kids,” said Colton Superintendent Nate Smith.

The signs are posted at each end of town, with more posted at the intersection of 195 and Steptoe Street in town. For in-town sites, there are two on each side of the highway; a neon yellow sign next to a speed limit sign with a yellow light that will flash.

The DOT found out about the outdated signs when the Colton school turned in a regular annual report that happened to mention the location of its school zone warning signs, said Mayor Jerry Weber.

The DOT noticed that the signs weren’t up to code (their location was in the wrong place according to new state regulations) and asked the city if it would apply for funding. The city applied for the grant and received it, finding out the DOT pay for supplies and maintenance if the local entities paid the $1,500 cost for installation.