The new stoplight on Oak Ridge Turnpike between Oak Ridge High School and the Oak Ridge Civic Center will start operating on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The new traffic light in front of Oak Ridge High School on Oak Ridge Turnpike will start operating on Wednesday, December 30.
The stoplight has been operating in a temporary, flashing mode since the week of December 14.
City officials want to start operating the stoplight while school is out, said Roger Flynn, director of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department.
The Oak Ridge City Council approved a contract to install the stoplight in a 4-3 vote in April.
Former Public Works Director Gary Cinder, who has since retired, said the light will be green most of the time on Oak Ridge Turnpike. But it will turn red when cars are leaving the High School, giving those drivers a green light.
The traffic signal lights will turn all-red when pedestrians are crossing, Cinder said. The purpose is to improve safety for pedestrians crossing Oak Ridge Turnpike. It will take the place of crossing guards.
Installing the light could cost roughly $177,000, officials said in April. It was to be paid for using unspent money from the Special Programs Fund, the fund set up for traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety projects using money from the traffic cameras that were removed last year.
The contract was awarded to S&W Contracting Company Inc. of Murfreesboro. That company submitted the lowest of two bids.
Contact Flynn at (865) 425-1816 for more information about the traffic signal.
For more information about the City of Oak Ridge, visit www.oakridgetn.gov.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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