As discussed by wife and I: New lights have been installed on Nicholasville Rd. at both New Circle and at Man-O-War. They have a single green light below a single yellow light below two side-by-side red lights. The red lights are both solid red and these lighting devices appear over each lane of traffic.

What is the purpose of these lights (do they have a unique purpose beyond traditional traffic control devices) and why are they being installed at these intersections?

Steve Cummins, traffic signal system manager for the city’s Traffic Engineering department, explains: The lights were switched to double red lights at high volume, high accident and high congestion intersections. The purpose is simply to draw more attention to the fact that the light is red. Hopefully, this will reduce accidents and red light running at those intersections. The double red lights have been installed at other high traffic intersections around Lexington, including Richmond Road and Man O’ War, and Broadway and Vine. A few more are being installed over the next few days. The traffic engineering department will be studying those intersections over the next several months to see if problems are reduced. These lights have been used across the state and did reduce problems.

And, by the way, all traffic lights in Lexington are now LED lights.

Filed under: Lexington info