FARMINGTON – A pedestrian phase is expected to be installed in the traffic lights at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway by early October.

The lights will be reconfigured so that a phase will stop all traffic at the four-way intersection when the walk signal is activated to allow pedestrians to cross the street, said state transportation spokesman Jim Mansir.

The state had planned to do traffic signal work at the intersection of High Street and Broadway but after an informational meeting earlier this year, town officials asked that the state do something with the traffic light at Main and Broadway instead.

As the traffic light currently functions, even when a walk sign is indicated on the signal to cross one street, traffic on the opposite street has a green light.

Town Manager Richard Davis told Department of Transportation representatives that it was dangerous and other people echoed his concerns. Davis said he had nearly been hit himself.

Mansir said he received permission from the DOT officials to reconfigure the light even though it was out of the scope of the High/Broadway project.

Last Monday, a Jay woman was hit by a truck at the intersection. According to police, she hadn’t activated the walk sign but was in the cross walk. The truck driver told police his view was obscured briefly and he didn’t see her until it was too late.

Davis called AD Electric Inc. of Sabattus the day after the accident to see when they were going to reconfigure the lights. A representative there said he would check with the DOT.

Mansir said Friday that the company has said it would do the project in two weeks, or about the first week of October.

The company has until Nov. 21 to complete the project, Mansir said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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