AIKEN --- Aiken officials hope a new traffic light system will allow a smoother drive through downtown with better timed green lights by midsummer.
"Right now, they're all timed the same, and that's the problem," said Aiken Department of Public Safety Chief Pete Frommer.
He said the new lights will be programmed to stay green longer during peak travel times along Richland and Park avenues, Laurens Street and other major roads. The signals also would change more quickly at night.
The state Department of Transportation has approved funding and recently completed traffic studies.
Chief Frommer wasn't sure of the amount, but he said the system would cover about 36 traffic signals at nine intersections.
Chief Frommer said the lights will have cameras for traffic counts and will sense when motorists are stopped at a red light.
In Augusta, traffic engineer Steve Cassell said traffic light upgrades costing more than $2 million will start along Broad Street in the next three to four months.
He said the equipment will save the city in maintenance costs and "the timing (of lights) will definitely be upgraded." The upgrades will involve lights at eight intersections on Broad between Fifth and 12th streets.
Lights along Washington Road in were upgraded recently.
Reach Preston Sparks at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
THE LONGEST LIGHTS
- Officials say the wait at side roads along Washington Road is the longest in Richmond and Columbia counties, lasting up to a minute and a half, said Mike Edwards, a Richmond County traffic signal operations manager.
- The second longest wait is about a minute and 20 seconds for roads along Gordon Highway.
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