An upgraded traffic light in Chapel Hill was installed at the intersection of East Franklin and Raleigh streets to address a problem that is well-known to motorists who frequent those roads.

The upgrade was facilitated by Kumar Neppalli, the traffic engineering manager of Chapel Hill, and installed by members of the Chapel Hill Public Works Department.

“Recently, we got approval from the state to change the signal,” noted Neppalli

Before the light was upgraded, motorists wishing to travel west onto East Franklin Street from Raleigh Street were forced to wait for a break in traffic that would rarely present itself.

With no turn lanes on Raleigh Street and no traffic signal to account for motorists making left turns, the intersection would often become an insurmountable chokepoint during rush hour.

“The traffic used to back up all the way to Cameron Avenue in the afternoon and in the evening peak,” explained Neppalli.

An arrow signal on the upgraded traffic light solves this problem by moving more motorists who are forced to idle on Raleigh Street while attempting to make left turns.

Neppalli explained that this solution will reduce “delay and congestion” on the two-lane road, which was never widened due to “limited right of way.”

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