The last traffic signal on U.S. Highway 52 between Rochester and St. Paul went dark Tuesday as a new interchange and local access roads opened in Cannon Falls, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The signals are covered at the closed intersection and the signal arms will be removed by a crane today. Some of the side signals were cut down on Tuesday.

The $14.3 million safety project at the interchange of Highway 52 and Goodhue County Road 24 in Cannon Falls has been under construction since July 2013 and is expected to be completed by October this year. Along with the new interchange, County Road 24 was realigned and new frontage roads were constructed. Two intersections with signals and four intersections without signals on Highway 52 were eliminated.

The other signal on the south end of Cannon Falls was removed in July during work on the highway ramp.

A total of 124 crashes were recorded from 2004-2014 at the two signaled intersections in Cannon Falls. Included in that total are three serious injury crashes and one fatal crash.

MnDOT worked with Goodhue County and Cannon Falls on the project to enhance safety for an efficient and effective transportation system. The work is part of significant safety upgrades motorists will see soon. Seven miles south of Cannon Falls, construction continues on an interchange at Highway 52 and Goodhue County Road 9, which will provide safe crossing for motorists on County Road 9 and improved exit and acceleration lanes for motorists on Highway 52. That project should be completed this fall.

Motorists should pay close attention to the work zone. Paving work continues on Highway 52 through Cannon Falls, so traffic is narrowed to single lanes in each direction.