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Updated: 11:28 PM Jul 22, 2010
Traffic Chaos That's Difficult to See
New directional, optical light signals only let you see the light that's directly in front of you.
Posted: 9:33 PM Jul 22, 2010Reporter: Brooks Jarosz Email Address: brooks.jarosz@wsaz.com |
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14 Comments 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Navigating through all of the construction in downtown Charleston can be a real challenge, but to make matters worse, new traffic light signals have people asking is the light red or green?
At the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Lee Street, new special directional, optical light signals only let you see the light that's directly in front of you.
"That could lead to some confusion especially for somebody who's a little older," one man said. "They could get confused and you don't want that to happen in a major intersection."
"Right now, I can't tell if it's green," one woman said. "They're going so I assume it's green but I see a little tiny spot of green."
The Department of Highways says the new lights are meant to keep you safe.
"The location for which you can see is very, very narrow," DOH Traffic Engineering Director Cindy Cramer said. "It's so when the ramp phase is moving, those on Pennsylvania Avenue don't see the green and potentially mistake it for their movement."
The intersection is currently under construction as part of the Fort Hill Bridge project.
These are the first type of LED directional optical signals in the state. The old incandescent signals are no longer made, however, the light case is the same.
Now, it's becoming a movement of mixed signals.
"We've got a little work to do on making sure we have a good viewing angle," Cramer said.
Despite these angles that are throwing people off, no major accidents have been reported at the intersection.
The DOH says it's looking into this to make sure everything is programmed properly say the best option is to use caution.
Latest Comments
Someone from the DOH must be getting a kick-back from the distributors / sellers of traffic lights. When they re-did the interchange at the Huntington Mall rather than putting in an interchange that would handle traffic with minimum lights they installed lights all over. The traffic flow seems worse now than before unless you're heading west on 64.
I think the lights are a good idea...
Everybody who is complaining needs to stop blaming DOH and slow down. I have to go through Charleston every now and then and you ppl fly like idiots. As far as 35, would you rather still have it like it was? And the colors of traffic lights are those colors because of colorblind people.
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