LEWISTON – Maine Turnpike drivers will have a week to get used to a new traffic light on Plourde Parkway.
Crews are expected to turn on power to the new light controlling the northbound ramps of the turnpike today or early next week.
The light will flash yellow for at least a week before being turned on completely.
“Crews are finishing painting road lines, and that’s about all they have left to do,” said Paul Godfrey of HNTB consulting engineers. “Once they do, they’ll energize the signal.”
The light is one of the changes at the turnpike interchange designed to cut down on congestion.
An estimated 6,000 drivers a day will use the light, Godfrey said.
The Maine Turnpike Authority agreed to the work as part of the state and local effort to bring Wal-Mart’s distribution facility to Lewiston.
Workers added new turning lanes on Plourde Parkway for cars getting on the turnpike.
Those should give cars a safe place to wait before getting onto the turnpike.
The signal will help that, as well.
“Instead of waiting for gaps in traffic, this gives everyone their own phase to get through the intersection,” Godfrey said. “It should greatly reduce the time they spend waiting there.”
The new light won’t have turn signals, he said.
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