The thousands of motorists traversing the area around the intersection of Washington and Belair roads might not like the numerous traffic signals there, but traffic experts say the red lights, including some new ones, are likely saving them time.

"If you're in a low-speed, high-volume intersection, like a downtown, you can put the lights closer together and people can progress faster," said Mike Keene, an area traffic engineer with the state Department of Transportation.

Closer traffic signals cluster vehicles together, Mr. Keene said.

"You keep the cars attuned to the next light," he said. "The more you can do that, the more you keep cars grouped from light to light, they can actually move faster."

In 2007, three traffic signals went on in the area where Old Evans Road meets Washington Road, at Evans to Locks and Washington roads, and on North Belair Road at the entrance of a new Home Depot.

Other traffic signals in the area are at Washington and North Belair roads, Owens Road at Washington Road, the Target shopping center, Hereford Farm Road at North Belair Road, Ronald Reagan Drive at Washington Road and the entrance to the Evans Wal-Mart on Washington Road.

On an average day, more than 80,000 vehicles approach and leave that intersection from Washington and Belair roads, Columbia County Traffic Engineer Glen Bollinger said.

"It's a very busy intersection," he said.

Mr. Bollinger agreed with Mr. Keene that the signals help move traffic along.

"You don't add lights to slow traffic down," he said. "The reason you put them in is because the volumes of traffic demand it."

That volume likely will increase as development continues at Washington and Belair roads, Mr. Bollinger said.

"The whole development corner where Home Depot is at is going to grow," he said. "There's other land available. Once that thing is built out with whatever is going to be there, restaurants and other stores, the potential for traffic is only going to increase."

Motorists are going to need a means to safely enter Belair and Washington roads, Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said.

So far, the new lights have produced few traffic incidents, with only minor wrecks taking place in the area, Capt. Morris said.

"Since these traffic signals have been installed, it's really been uneventful, and that's a good thing," he said.

"As far as congestion, we have received some complaints, but that's to be expected," he said.