A plan to synchronize six streetlights on Wire Road is in place and expected to bid to potential companies on May 10, following a road work-related wiring disruption last week.
As road crews were cutting away pavement to install bike paths on the side of the road, some of the embedded wires were damaged causing a temporary disruption, according to Auburn University Facilities Management Communications and Marketing Specialist Gail Riese.
As a result, the streetlights, located at the Wire Road intersections of Samford Avenue, Lem Morrison Drive, Shug Jordan Parkway, Simms Drive, Stonegate Drive and Webster Road, are now operating on independent timers as opposed to a traffic detection system.
The lights are changing independently of each other, meaning drivers on Wire Road may experience some delays.
However, the construction blunder may turn out to be a blessing.
The project is expected to be finished before the fall semester and promises to greatly improve traffic on Wire Road, according to Riese.
"Facilities created (this program) so we can install and program all of those loops so they would all be synced together so as you approach from one traffic signal to the next, you're not going to get the delays you have right now," Riese said. "They're all going to be programmed to work together."
In addition, with the recent installation of new streetlights along Wire Road, the newest traffic lights can now be synchronized to the older ones to form one cohesive system, according to Riese.
"They've installed additional signals due to the increase in traffic along Wire Road ... so now we just have a great opportunity so we can put them all in sequence at the same time," Riese said. "It's definitely a good program."
To repair the wires, the asphalt will be re-cut and new wires will be installed and programmed.
Road improvement work and bike path construction will continue, leaving each side of the road only one lane of traffic, but the intersections will remain open, according to Riese.
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