2 Greensburg traffic signals targeted for improvements

Greensburg will upgrade two of the city’s oldest traffic signals at Main and Clopper streets and at Fourth Street and Westminster Avenue.

“These signals are some of the oldest and most inefficient in the city,” Greensburg planning director Jeff Raykes told city council at its April agenda meeting.

Public works director and project manager Tom Bell said the Main Street intersection likely will see replacement of the signals and supporting mast arms, as well as installation of pedestrian crossing devices and a battery backup for the signal controller.

“If there’s an interruption in power during a storm, we’ll still be able to maintain operation of the red light,” he said.

Bell said new mast arms will allow placement of signals directly above the lane of traffic they control, rather than having a single signal suspended above the middle of the intersection.

“Putting a red light above the lane of traffic gives you better traffic flow,” he said.

Sidewalk ramps at the intersection also will be updated, for improved handicapped accessibility, Bell said.

“The Fourth Street project won’t be as elaborate because of a shortfall of money,” he said. “We’re going to focus on the safety side.”

Depending on the cost of bids the city receives, the Fourth and Westminster improvements also could include sidewalk ramps, as well as new lights and a controller.

The city received a $496,563 grant for the two signals, about $97,000 less than it requested. The grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority Local Share Account Program is funded by state gaming revenues.

“We’ll take that money and do the best we can,” Bell said.

He doesn’t expect the signal improvements to take place until 2024.