A new traffic signal is now in place on SR-14 at the 17 Springs entrance in Millbrook, part of an ongoing effort by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to improve safety at the intersection. The signal was installed this week, and drivers in the area should expect to see it move through several stages before it becomes fully operational later this month.
Signal Not Yet Active
For now, the newly installed signal heads remain covered, meaning the light is not operational and drivers should continue to treat the intersection as they normally would. ALDOT crews were scheduled to begin placing pavement markings around the intersection Sunday evening, Aug. 16, weather permitting, laying the groundwork for the signal to eventually direct traffic.
A Phased Rollout, Following Standard Safety Practice
Rather than switching the signal directly into full operation, ALDOT is following its standard safety practice of easing the light into service. The signal was set to begin flashing mode on Tuesday, Aug. 18, and will remain in that mode for seven days. During flashing mode, drivers typically treat the intersection similarly to a four-way stop, which allows motorists time to adjust to the presence of a new signal before it begins operating with standard red, yellow and green phases.
ALDOT plans to bring the signal to full operation on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at which point it will function as a normal traffic light, controlling the flow of vehicles through the SR-14 and 17 Springs intersection.
What Drivers Should Expect
With crews still working in and around the intersection to finish pavement markings and prepare the signal for full use, ALDOT is asking motorists to plan for potential delays and to watch for workers and equipment in the work zone. Drivers passing through the SR-14 and 17 Springs area in Millbrook over the coming days should stay alert for changing traffic patterns as the project moves through its final phases.
New signal installations like this one are typically aimed at improving safety at intersections that see enough traffic, or a high enough risk of conflicts between vehicles, to warrant a controlled crossing rather than an uncontrolled or stop-sign-regulated intersection. Once the SR-14 signal reaches full operation on Aug. 25, it will join the network of ALDOT-maintained signals designed to keep traffic moving safely through the area.