For months, construction crews have chipped away at a project at the intersection of Ironbound and Longhill roads, adding a signal and turn lanes to improve traffic flow.
While the project was originally slated for completion by the end of November 2018, we are now 10 days into 2019, and crews, traffic cones and equipment are still at the intersection.
Why?
Bad weather and some hold-ups relocating an underground gas line have caused the project to get held back multiple times, Williamsburg City Engineer Aaron Small said during a City Council meeting Monday.
“We do appreciate the public’s patience,”Small said.
Because the project was pushed into the winter season, foul weather has played into the project much more than originally intended, Small said.
Crews are expected to finish most of the work and remove equipment from the intersection in about three weeks, Small said. At that point, the only remaining work will include installing permanent traffic light mast arms and paving, which will be done in March or April when the temperatures are “more favorable.”
In the upcoming three weeks, weather-permitting, the traffic signal will be switched to its permanent cycle, which is in-sync with the light at the intersection of Richmond and Ironbound roads.
Loop sensors will also be installed within the next three weeks.
An abundance of rain last fall caused the project to be delayed.
When WYDaily spoke to Small in November, he cautioned drivers to travel through the intersection slowly and pay attention to the new traffic patterns.
Some drivers have driven in turn lanes instead of using the straight lanes to go through the intersection.
