With a history of fatalities at rural intersections during dark conditions, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) initiated research starting in the early 2000’s that led to the practice of proactively lighting rural intersections and a systemic program to improve nighttime visibility at rural intersections. Research showed intersection lighting provide visual benefits for drivers, beyond headlamps, as they navigate critical visual information in the dark. The illumination helps drivers reduce potential uncertainty identifying critical information such as road and intersection geometry and other visual cues to help them navigate safely under the rural environment.  This is their story