OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford A vehicle stops Friday at the new four-way intersection at Fifth and Swan streets in the city of Dunkirk. A sign at the intersection, visible next to the vehicle, warns motorists of the change, which took effect Friday.

Traffic control and signage changes went into effect last week near the former Dunkirk Middle School in response to an increase in students, with younger children set to attend.

City Department of Public Works employees have erected two new stop signs on Fifth Street at Eagle Street, which is now a four-way intersection. A portable electric sign on Fifth Street warns motorists of the change.

There are also new pylons in crosswalks near the school, warning that it is state law to yield to pedestrians.

The speed limit in the area next to the school remains 15 miles per hour during the school day, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

At the school building itself, the current parking area on the Eagle Street side will now be converted to a bus loop for bus drop offs.

The former bus loop on the Swan Street side will now become the parent drop off. Parents are to enter the loop by driving north on Swan Street from Sixth Street and making a right turn into the loop. There will be no left turns into that loop for vehicles traveling south on Swan Street from Fifth Street. That’s a move intended to keep traffic moving, and stop parents from dropping children so they have to cross the road in front of traffic.

A crossing guard will be at the Fifth and Swan intersection to help children cross so they can get to the school drop off entrance on the Swan Street side of the building.

Dunkirk Middle School will now be home to grades three, four, five and six this year as the district begins a reconfiguration of where students will go to school. District officials have said there will be about 600 children attending school in the building.