The Opp City Council is considering whether to proceed with a traffic study that would determine the necessity of a red light at the intersection of Opine Road and Main Street.

At a previous council meeting, council members discussed the fact that it is difficult to get in and out of Opine Road during school hours and there have been several accidents. The intersection is directly across from Mizell Memorial Hospital.

Opp Mayor H.D. Edgar said this week he spoke with an engineer who said it would cost approximately $50,000 to install traffic signals at the intersection.

However, Edgar told council members the city has gone as far as possible without spending money, and that in order to proceed it will need to hire a firm to conduct a traffic study and then consult with the department of transportation to get the OK.

“This will determine if there is a need for it,” he said. “It’s really for liability to cover the city.”

Councilman Jimmy Rogers asked if the lights were for the ones on the poles or hanging.

The mayor said the current plan would include stoplights hanging on poles.

Edgar said if the council wanted stoplights that were on poles, it could cost between $100,000 and $200,000.

“They must be hurricane rated,” said City Planner Don Childre. “We are in that wind zone, so it’s required.”

Childre said that each pole would cost between $20,000 and $30,000.

Edgar said he hopes the city can obtain a grant to pay for the signals, but at the current time, the grant period is closed.

Council members also discussed the possibility of using the traffic lights taken down at Hart Avenue and Main Street or Covington Avenue and Main Street, which the city has taken down within the last year.

Edgar said the city would have to OK that with DOT, but said a traffic study would still be needed.

It is estimated the traffic study would cost around $10,000.