After considerable effort by pedestrians and drivers, an upgrade at the pedestrian crossing near Converse Avenue SE and SE Sedgwick Road will be completed by Labor Day.

The state Department of Transportation is installing what it calls an “innovative” upgrade; it’s an on-demand beacon warning system to alert drivers of pedestrians waiting to cross the highway.

According to the state DOT, the system allows pedestrians to push a crosswalk button that activates flashing, amber light-emitting-diode lights. Seen by both directions of traffic, the two-sided lights will alert cars to stop to allow pedestrians to safely cross the street.

The new system is replacing a 20-mph school zone warning system that is manually activated during school months.Claudia Bingham Baker of WSDOT says the new system has several benefits:

— It allows the highway speed limit to remain 35 mph through the area.

— It provides pedestrians an on-demand crosswalk enhancement system that’s available all hours, every day.

— The system is solar-powered and environmentally friendly.

Baker reminds drivers that all roadway intersections are legal crosswalks, whether marked our unmarked, and drivers are required by law to stop to allow pedestrians or bicyclists to cross.