Signals to be re-timed on Lima Road

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the City of Fort Wayne announced Friday that signals on State Road 3/Lima Road will be re-timed during the week of June 4, with several left-turn operations changing between Washington Center Road and Dupont Road.

Traditionally, at intersections with protected left turn signals, the left turn arrows precede the opposing thru traffic green signal. At the intersections of S.R. 3 and Washington Center Road, Ludwig Road, Cook Road, Lima Valley Drive, Wallen Road, Rabus Drive/Cremer Avenue, Northbrook Drive and Dupont Road, one or both of the left turn arrows will follow, or “lag,” the opposing thru traffic green in the signal cycle.

In other words, thru traffic will receive the green signal first, while left-turning vehicles wait on the lagging green arrow. The left arrow will complete the signal cycle, after the thru traffic signal has become red, and before the intersecting street begins its green cycle.

These “lagging” left turn signals have already been used successfully in several areas in Fort Wayne to improve traffic flow, including SR 930/Coliseum Boulevard. Drivers are asked to use caution in the S.R.3/Lima Road area as drivers adjust to the new signal operations on this road.

The purpose of the signal re-timing is to improve efficiency and reduce travel time for motorists on S.R. 3.

The City of Fort Wayne and INDOT work together to coordinate signals where state roads and U.S. highways intersect with city streets to ensure efficient traffic flow. With the completion of the S.R. 3 widening project in 2011, new traffic counts were conducted to accurately reflect the amount of traffic using the road.

After collecting the counts, engineers analyzed the data and re-evaluated the timings to determine necessary changes.