Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Delays may have resulted from work on traffic lights throughout the Star City in recent weeks, but in the end the project is designed to speed the flow of vehicles traveling through the community.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
GETTING THE GREEN LIGHT, once upgrades are completed in Presque Isle, will mean drivers will be able to travel through the community without having to stop. The collaborative effort between the city and DOT began earlier this spring and is expected to be completed by September, with AD Electric Inc. of Sabattus performing the work.
The work is a joint effort between the city and the state, said Robert Watson, Maine Department of Transportation Region 5 manager, based in Presque Isle.
“It’s a collaborative project between the city and the state, with the state picking up 80 percent of the tab, with the city covering 20 percent,” said Watson. Watson did not have a dollar figure for the project at presstime.
Watson said the upgrade will synchronize the lights to help speed the flow of traffic through the city.
“What the upgrade will mean is that for somebody coming through town, the lights will be tied together from Academy St. to the mall. If a driver is driving the speed limit and gets the green light at one light, they should be able to hit all green through town. It’s a matter of synchronization,” said Watson.
Watson said when the lights were initially installed, their timing wasn’t adjusted so one would match the next.
In addition to speeding the flow of traffic, the light system will also be connected to the Presque Isle Fire Department and Presque Isle Police Department so that in the event of an emergency, both departments will be able to trip the lights to give emergency personnel a “green light” to enhance their ability to respond to calls.
“This will tie the whole system through the PIPD and PIFD, providing an override at the station to get emergency responders out faster,” said Watson.
AD Electric Inc., of Sabattus, is the company in charge of the upgrade. Work began in late May and is expected to be completed around mid-September.
“The only thing we’re waiting for is new controllers for each of the signals. The new signals are in. Now it’s just a matter of the contractor bench-testing the controllers. Once that’s done, we’ll install those,” said Watson.
Additional work is being performed to upgrade crosswalk and other lighting in the city as well.
In an effort to reduce traffic problems, Watson said work that was going to be the most disruptive was done during off hours.
“We also have had a lot of help from the PIPD directing traffic. Drivers are a lot more cautious and responsive when they see flashing blue lights and not just a ‘work ahead’ sign,” said Watson. “Overall, the whole project’s gone very well so far.”
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
TRAFFIC DELAYS may have occurred due to recent work on traffic lights throughout Presque Isle, but once completed, the project is designed to allow motorists driving the speed limit who have hit one green light to be able to hit them all as they travel through the community.
