Alton, Mo. – Modern times are coming to Alton, whether we like it or not. Visitors have called Alton a ‘Mayberry’ town, homey and friendly. Will that change? MODOT has stepped into our lives, not to repair potholes, not to paint lines, but to remove Alton’s blinking lights.
History
The blinking lights at the corners of US 160 and Mo 19 have been there longer than many people have. Our mayor commented that they were originally installed to stop accidents. And the lights Did stop accidents. As traffic cruised on Mo 19, hard braking, sudden stops, quick turns, and too-fast traffic through town all contributed to unhealthy conditions on the highways. Now, MODOT says no.
Reason For Taking Down
MODOT said that the lights are “old, outdated, and no longer working properly.’ On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, MODOT stopped traffic to remove the lights.
Opposition
However, these lights do still work. They require hardly any maintenance. Did you ever see them Not working, even in ice storms? Also, MODOT does not pay for the electricity for the lights; the city of Alton does. They also offer an old-fashioned ambiance to our community.
Why remove something that helps and requires no additional effort for those involved? Will we see an increase in accidents? We will wait and see.
