Walnutport to advertise for bids for traffic light improvements

Walnutport will advertise to bid out a project for the main traffic signal at its busiest intersection.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote, with council President William Turk absent, authorized borough engineer Jason Newhard to bid out the traffic light at Best Avenue and Main Street.

Newhard said the borough has received final PennDOT approval for the condition diagram to upgrade to EMS pre-emption.

As a result, the borough had to discuss additions due to the control panel being replaced by insurance money.

Council agreed to a suggestion by borough grant coordinator Michael Wentz to add battery backup.

The borough submitted the revised traffic signal condition diagram to the state Department of Transportation in May.

Wentz said in May that the borough was previously awarded a $25,000 Green Light — GO program 50/50 matching grant.

He said at that time the borough was awarded the grant two years ago through PennDOT to update the light.

As part of the project, the light would receive new light heads, a new controller and control box and emergency pre-emption.