Traffic signal update project begins Thursday | Transportation

HICKORY - Contactors will begin with field operations on the City of Hickory traffic signal upgrade project on Thursday, February 24 and motorists are asked to travel through the areas with caution.

“Over the next week, motorists can expect to see workers flagging traffic along intersections of NC 127,” said City of Hickory Systems Operations Engineer Lori Wray who is overseeing the project on behalf of the city.  “The contractor will turn off the traffic signal to replace internal parts in the signal cabinet and then reactivate the signal; this work is expected to take from 15 to 30 minutes per intersection.” 

“Work will begin on the north end of NC 127 and will proceed south until all intersections on NC 127 have been worked,” added Wray.

The City received a $2.5 million grant to upgrade the equipment and software that regulates the traffic signals in Hickory. This upgrade will allow the signals to be coordinated so that the timing is improved.   All of these changes will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from idling vehicles and will allow for more efficient traffic management.  The project will be nearing completion by late summer 2011.