Updated Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, 2:45 p.m.

A new traffic light installed this summer at Griffith and Beaty streets may not begin regular operation until around Thanksgiving, three months later than originally planned. The town’s public works chief said he is in negotiations with the state Department of Transportation, which manages Griffith Street, about postponing the light’s operation until repaving and other roadwork is completed on Griffith Street.

The town, based on information from the DOT, had announced in July that signals would begin changing Aug. 18.  But DOT officials have since told Public Works Chief Doug Wright that delays in painting lane and stop lines have delayed the signal’s full operation.

The signal still could begin operating sooner, if the DOT decides to do so, but Mr. Wright is pushing for a delay until after the roadwork, to avoid confusion and traffic troubles.

The long-awaited road Griffith Street improvement project is needed following more than two years of utility work and construction related to development of the Exit 30 area. Once that work is done, the town plans to take over maintenance of the street, Mr. Wright said.

Mr. Wright explained the delay in response to a citizen’s question at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting. He also said the work would include other pedestrian safety measures, including “bulb-outs” to narrow the roadway.

Robert Mahoud, of Shorecrest Drive, asked about the traffic light during the citizen comment period of Tuesday’s meeting.

“For a long time now, the situation on Griffith Street in terms of walkability is getting worse and worse. Drivers used to be very courteous at the crosswalk there, but we’re getting more and more who are just blasting through it,” Mr. Mahoud said. He said he was nearly hit while crossing Griffith Street earlier Tuesday.

He said police have told him, “Don’t worry, because we’re getting a traffic light” at the intersection. But he said it’s still blinking yellow, which “is no help whatsoever.”

Mr. Wright said, “We are looking at on turning on the light right before Thanksgiving, which is when the complete Griffith Street project is done.”

“As part of that project, we will be improving the intersections at Watson and Beaty with pedestrian safety in mind. We are going to be bumping out those intersections similar to the ones on Concord Road, which we feel will add a lot of pedestrian safety to those,” Mr. Wright said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

July 30, 2008, “Traffic light installed at Griffith & Beaty streets”

EDITOR’S NOTE:  We updated this story based on new information from Public Works Director Doug Wright, who clarified the remarks he made at Tuesday’s town board meeting.