New crosswalk signs on State Street warn motorists that pedestrians may be crossing in the area, but are not intended as a signal for traffic to stop. Pedestrians do not have the right of way. This sign is at the junction of South State and US-1, at Fitch Street, overlooking the St. Ignace harbor. Painted crosswalks across State Street in St. Ignace have long caused confusion among visitors, some of whom think they mean pedestrians have the right of way when crossing the street. They don't.

State Street is also I-75 Business Loop, a state trunkline down the city's main street. As such, motor vehicles have the right of way and pedestrians must wait for traffic to clear before crossing the road. But tourists from communities where crosswalks give pedestrians the right of way don't know this. They walk in front of traffic, sometimes with children in tow, or stop their cars suddenly when they see people at the curb.

Now, two bright yellow pedestrian crosswalk signs have been erected on State Street by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), one at the First National Bank across from the Arnold Dock and one at the corner of Fitch Street at the Y, where South State Street and US-2 split.

What do they mean?

"They are standard signs advising motorists to be alert," said traffic and safety engineer Karrie Abbitt of MDOT. "Traffic does not have to stop along the trunkline, but the signs should advise motorists that there could be people crossing in the area."

St. Ignace Police Chief Tim Matelski said the presence of the pedestrian crossing signs is not a signal for traffic to stop. Drivers must yield to pedestrians they encounter who are already in or near their lanes, he said, but the crosswalk does not mean that pedestrians on the side of the road can suddenly enter the street and expect traffic to stop.

There are no signs at the curb advising pedestrians to yield to motorists, however.

Mr. Matelski said people have expressed confusion about the crosswalks and acknowledged that the new pedestrian crossing signs may make matters more clouded.

"I hope this doesn't create confusion," he said, "but the State of Michigan puts those up along the I-75 trunkline. They are not a city project."

If there is any further confusion, Ms. Abbitt said, the crosswalk signs will be reviewed and possibly altered. She said anyone who witnesses or is involved with traffic problems as a result of the signs should contact her at (906) 293-5168.

The pedestrian crossing signs are part of a project to replace all traffic signs along the street, including stop signs and speed limit signs. Flint-based Action Traffic Maintenance is the contractor for MDOT. The signs incorporate the new U.S. highway typeface, Clearview, which is thought to be more visible to motorists. They are also mounted on thick, treated wood posts, which MDOT expects will last 20 years, longer than the metal posts used in the past.

A similar project is underway along the I-75 Business Spur in Sault Ste. Marie.

In addition to modifications in downtown St. Ignace, an overhead sign replacement project is underway on US-2 and I-75. These are being done by Highway Services Company of Woodhaven. Large signs that span the highways are being replaced, right down to the foundations that hold the trellises.

The entire project was designed by Lansing-based DLZ Michigan.