Public Works pushes back activation of new Providence traffic signals

Columbia Public Works crews originally planned on activating the new traffic signals at the intersections of Turner Avenue and Providence Road, and Burnam Road and Providence Road, Friday afternoon.

Crews said setting up the signals took longer than planned and they didn’t want to make the switch during rush-hour traffic.

Crews also said waiting until Monday will give them more time to test the signals and more crews will be available to help with the transition.

Once the two traffic signals are activated, the traffic light at Rollins Street and Providence Road will be deactivated and taken out.

Rollins Street will be right-turn-in, right-turn-out only, so drivers will no longer be able to turn left onto Rollins Street going from south Providence Road, and won’t be able to turn left onto Providence Road from Rollins Street.

The number of crashes at the intersection of Rollins and Providence is more than the number of crashes at the intersections of Turner Avenue and Providence and Burnam Road and Providence combined.

According to online traffic crash records, since 2010 there have been six crashes at Turner and Providence, 10 at Burnam and Providence, and 30 at Rollins and Providence.

David Fennewald, lead construction engineer of the Providence Road Improvement Project, said the end goal is to make traffic flow on Providence more smooth.

Fennewald said the project is expected to finish by projected completion of fall and the project is on budget at about $3.9 million.