Traffic signals will be turned on Aug. 11 at Griffith and Beaty streets.

A long-awaited traffic light has been installed on Griffith Street at Beaty Street, and will be turned on Aug. 11. The light will flash yellow for a week for testing, and go into regular signal opration on Aug. 18, town officials said this week.

Meanwhile, the town also has installed three-way stop signs at the intersection of Woodland and Ridgewood. The signs were among a series of traffic-calming measures approved by the town board in March.

The light is only the town’s fourth (three others are on Main Street) and comes as traffic increases on Griffith, especially at the intersection with Beaty and Sloan streets. Many drivers use the intersection while traveling to or from Ingersoll-Rand, the new Davidson Bay development and other neighborhoods, or N.C. 115.

In an announcement, the town said lights will change on a timed sequence at first. Once all street improvements are complete, the lights will remain green for Griffith Street traffic until traffic approaches the from Beaty or Sloan and the lights will change accordingly to direct traffic.

RECYCLED FIXTURES

Davidson Planning Director Kris Krider said the signal lights at Beaty Street formerly were used at Griffith and Jetton streets, before a roundabout was installed. The cost of the project was about $35,000, Mr. Krider said, paid by developer Dominic Liburdi as a condition for approval of the Davidson Bay master plan.

“Since the signal heads and cabinet are recycled-used to be at jetton and Griffith, we are saving a lot of money,” Mr. Krider said.

The town paid NCDOT to design the traffic light system and install the light.

The town said the light installation is part of a series of pedestrian and infrastructure improvements along Griffith Street planned in the coming months, including a resurfacing. Other features will include new pavement, crosswalk and sidewalk improvements and painted bike lanes. The estimated $417,000 project is a joint venture between the town, NCDOT and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities.