New signal lights on I-540 causing traffic backups
RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- The North Carolina Department of Transportation re-activated signal lights Wednesday along Interstate 540, however, the launch is causing major traffic backups during the morning commute.
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The NCDOT initially activated signal lights on Tuesday morning at four entrance ramps for drivers merging onto I-540 in North Raleigh, but had to later re-activate them Wednesday morning due to technical issues.
The westbound on-ramps at Leesville Road, Creedmoor Road, Six Forks Road, and Falls of Neuse Road now all have signals controlling the flow of cars onto the interstate.
Basically, if you see a red light, you'll have to stop before you merge onto I-540.
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However, the new traffic flow caused back ups for miles Wednesday morning, especially along southbound Falls of Neuse Road between Dunn Road and I-540.
There have been reports that the ramp control signals are not working correctly at that location, but officials have not confirmed a problem.
On Tuesday, the signals were not working as planned, so the state shut them down after about 30 minutes.
DOT spokesperson Steve Abbott explained: "Say the left lane is red, the right lane is green. They just flash back and forth. So one car goes from the right lane, one car goes from the left lane. Well the timing was off. It was the same color in both lanes."
Abbott said a hardware malfunction inside the physical computerized boxes on the entrance ramps caused the timing on the lights to be off and they shut off the lights to be safe.
RELATED: New signal lights on I-540 hit bump in the road
Officials say sensors in the road track traffic flow information to a computer that can make real time adjustments, allowing car onto the entrance ramp every couple of seconds.
Drivers who've seen them work in other states tend to think they work but most say they're taking a 'wait-and-see' approach when it comes to the new lights along 540.
For more about the signals, visit www.ncdot.gov/projects/onrampsignals
