FARGO (AP) - Traffic lights in Fargo are displaying new "pedestrian countdown" signals.

A digital clock counts down the time a pedestrian has to cross the intersection. Officials say the counters eventually will replace the "walk" and "don't walk" signals used for years.

Senior city traffic engineer Jeremy Gordon says that besides signaling pedestrians, the counters mean drivers no longer will have to guess how long it will take for traffic lights to turn from green to yellow.

The new counters will be required on all new traffic signals starting in 2009. Gordon says that with about 170 traffic lights in Fargo, it will take some time to replace them all. He says areas with high pedestrian use will have priority. So far, a handful have been installed.