Traffic lights will be signaling Thunder Bay drivers coming to and from the hospital in a matter of weeks.
City project engineer Rick Harms said the traffic lights being installed on Oliver Road and the hospital entrance should be running within two to three weeks.
“Over time pedestrian volumes have increased with the opening of the regional hospital and the LU Hangar. Also traffic volumes have increased to the point we believe signals are warranted at this location,” Harms said.
Duct work was completed when Oliver Road was last reconstructed in 2004 in case the city later decided lights were necessary.
Work on the intersection has been ongoing this summer with the installation of pole bases, ducts and wiring. The next phase is to complete the wiring of the traffic controller and standing the poles, Harms said.
The lights will have a push-button activated crosswalk and will be semi-actuated, which Harms said means traffic on the side streets will have to come up on a loop detector that will trigger the green light.
