The era of police directing traffic in downtown Greenwich may soon come to an end.

The town and the police department have a plan to remove officers from the middle of the street and have them walk the beat on the sidewalks instead. The officers would be replaced with traffic lights at intersections, such as Havemeyer Place and Greenwich Avenue.

First Selectman Jim Lash (R-Greenwich) believes with all the current traffic on Greenwich Avenue, the current system of police officers directing traffic isn?t feasible anymore. There are currently seven officers who direct traffic. If the town?s planning and financial officials approve the plan, there will only be five officers and the lights will be installed. The conversion to traffic lights would cost the town more than $5,000.