NCDOT Signal Retiming Underway

By Dave Vieser — A comprehensive project to retime the traffic signals on West Catawba Avenue from U.S. 21 to Jetton Road is scheduled to be performed in October by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which maintains all the traffic signals on state-managed roads in Cornelius.

“Our division traffic engineer has indeed confirmed with the signal systems team in Raleigh that the project should be starting very soon,” said Jennifer Goodwin, an NCDOT spokesperson.

Will this effort have a positive impact on traffic flow along and across the major east-west artery in town?

Local officials certainly hope so.

This isn’t something NCDOT does everywhere, and officials purposely waited until fall and the opening of schools to start in order to tabulate the extra traffic generated when schools are open. Nonetheless, the timing will be a challenge, with so much construction work being done along West Catawba Avenue.

How Signals Work

Years ago, traffic signals were controlled by timers. However, virtually all of the signals are now triggered by the flow of traffic detected by monitors. When these detectors malfunction, traffic flow can get congested.

Motorists in our town learned much about damaged traffic signals earlier this year after construction crews cut cables at the West Catawba Avenue/Nantz Road intersection. It took months for the timing to be corrected by the contractor, and in the interim, westbound traffic piled up at times. The signal is functional at this time, but the intersection has still not been completed.

Reporting Signal Problems

It’s not just construction that could hamper signaling efficiency. Prompt reporting of inoperative signals is a vital element in keeping the system working at top efficiency.

NCDOT has crews throughout each region in the state that can be called out to correct timing defects. However, they can’t be everywhere at all times. Far more frequent observations can be reported by workers in local communities, such as police, who patrol the roads in town.

Cornelius Police Chief David Baucom said officers are trained to report signals that are not functioning correctly.

“NCDOT has a 24-hour number we can call anytime there is an issue with a DOT traffic light,” said Baucom. “However, we are part of Region 10, and the main headquarters for Region 10 are based out of Albemarle. When we call, it does take some time for them to respond if there is not someone in our area. This practice has been in place for many years.”

Chief Baucom said the department has a set protocol for an inoperative signal.

“When we get complaints, typically an officer responds and determines if there is an issue with a traffic light, and then we make the call to NCDOT,” he said.

If the issue involves a safety factor, an officer will be assigned to remain at the signal until NCDOT arrives.

Motorists may notice NCDOT crews working on signal lights along West Catawba Avenue between now and the end of October.

NCDOT officials hope they will also notice an improvement in the flow of traffic once the timing project is completed.