NDOT Updating Traffic Signals, Through Beatrice

BEATRICE – Motorists in Beatrice will have to exercise some extra caution at highway intersections this month. The State of Nebraska Department of Transportation is doing some traffic signal work at various intersections. Beatrice City Engineer James Burroughs says it’s not structural work, but replacing components in control boxes.

"They are looking at maybe changing some of the timing of the lights, but really the gist of the project is to change out that components in the cabinets".

Burroughs says how traffic signal problems are handled during power outages is changing, from the city electric department have a role to a state-controlled response.

"The state is going to take complete control of those signals along the highways....on Highway 77 and Highway 136. I believe they're updating the components to where if there is an outage, it will report to the state department so they know something is wrong, and they will send out a crew to check that out".

Work started Monday, and state officials have said it will take about 25 days. This week, work started at 19th and U.S. Highway 136….and at Lincoln and U.S. Highway 77 intersections. Burroughs says the next areas will be closer to the downtown, but all traffic signals on the highways through the community will get a component update.
Burroughs says during the downtown work, multiple four-way stop intersections are planned.

"So that way, traffic is kind of moving at the same pace, through the downtown area".

The work is expected to be completed by early June.