Those driving toward the intersection of Gladden Street and West Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Washington may have noticed a marked difference this week: no flashing lights.

The Washington City Council voted Monday night to “bag the heads” of the flashing traffic signals at the intersection for a period of time and rely solely on stop signs already posted on Gladden Street to keep traffic in line. Traffic on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, which previously encountered a flashing caution light going both directions, won’t be required to stop.

Originally full-service traffic signals, they were changed to a flashing signals several years ago. But it’s the effect of a vehicle crashing into one of the two signal poles at some point over the years that has taken its toll — the pole, on the northwest corner of the intersection is leaning over the intersection.

According to Public Works Director Allen Lewis, the pole is not a danger to passing traffic, but it does appear to be leaning into the intersection at a steeper angle than previously, prompting city officials to do something about it.

“It’s really a cost savings, plus a maintenance issue,” Lewis said.

Bagging the intersection’s traffic light for the next month to month and a half will give officials a chance to see if there’s a spike in motor vehicle accidents at the intersection — a way to determine if the signals should be removed entirely. If there’s no spike in accidents, the traffic lights will be taken down.

Lewis said the adjustment for drivers should be slight, as drivers on Gladden Street are accustomed to the stop signs at the intersection. The intersection has not had any history of traffic accidents in the past 2 1/2 years, Lewis said.

“Everybody is used to stopping on Gladden Street,” Lewis said.