There’s consternation in Auburn about Walgreens’ plan for revamping the intersection of Center, Union and Turner streets. The problem comes down to man vs. machine.

Walgreens is using computer modeling to declare where its new Auburn store should locate, and how the traffic patterns should be changed. Auburn residents are using their day-to-day experience on these streets to contradict the company’s plans.

The ends here are important. The plans by Walgreens provides a golden opportunity to revamp one of the city’s more convoluted intersections. It is something the city will be forced to address eventually, whether new construction is imminent – or not.

Yet this need to improve an intersection shouldn’t quiet residential concerns. There is justified worry that drivers, if given the chance to skip the three-street junction, will decide to unsafely skirt through a nearby neighborhood.

Walgreens has its reasons for its proposal. The residents have their reasons for their objections. Both know the current intersection is a mess. There is plenty of room here for negotiation and compromise, which the city has promised to facilitate.

Improving Center-Union-Turner is worth it.