A new traffic signal near Barrett Elementary School is on track to be installed early next year.
A work crew was at the intersection of N. George Mason Drive and N. Park Drive yesterday afternoon (Monday) as the county replaces the crossing’s rapid flashing beacon with a four-way traffic light.
Curb extensions, more lighting and an additional crosswalk are also part of plans to improve safety at the intersection, which is next to the Lubber Run Community Center and has seen numerous crashes over the years.
The upgrades are intended to reduce the frequency of vehicle-to-vehicle angle crashes — four of which resulted in injuries between 2021 and 2022, according to a county webpage.
As an interim measure, the county installed flexible posts and wheel stops last December to guide vehicles through the intersection and prevent through movements from N. Park Drive. Previously, drivers going across N. George Mason Drive — including those coming from the community center — had to navigate four lanes of fast-moving traffic.
Temporary closures of sidewalks, crosswalks and travel lanes are expected during construction next week.
“Follow detour signs to keep workers, other travelers, and yourself safe,” the county page says.
While a county webpage said the traffic signal would be installed by the end of the year, a county spokesperson clarified that work is not expected to be completed until early 2025.
This article has been updated with more recent information on the traffic signal’s expected installation date.
