New Lavonia Traffic Signal Completion Date Moved Back

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

More than a month after work to upgrade the City of Lavonia’s only traffic light, the work goes on.

The Georgia Dept of Transporation is replacing the old lights with new LED signals at the intersection of SR59/SR17.

Crews began work in early February, but according to GDOT spokesperson Teri Pope, the weather and other complications have pushed back the completion date.

Currently, GDOT crews are working to put in the camera equipment.

“There will actually be cameras on each leg of the intersection,” Pope said. “They don’t record, they are more of a motion sensor. It tells the computer that runs the traffic lights what to do. If there is no one waiting at the side street, it will give green longer to the main through street. And if there is somebody waiting on the side street, it will switch quicker.”

That work, Pope said involves laying new cabling and new electrical wiring.

Other work that still needs to be done includes finishing the concrete work and new crosswalks, putting in the pedestrian crossing lights, as well as putting the new LED signal heads themselves.

“The new completion date is the end of April, but it’s really going to depend on the weather,” Pope said.

Pope said even though the work will be going on during the day, traffic should not be affected at the intersection.

When the new lights finally do go up, however Pope said there could be some traffic delays.