Sparta Receives Grant For Traffic Light Project

Sparta has received $200,000 in grant funding to install a siren activated traffic control system.

It’s called traffic preemption where traffic lights turn to the appropriate light when it hears a emergency vehicle siren. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said the program will be added to all signals along Bockman Way.

“We have 14 traffic signals overall,” Hennessee said.  “We have enough money to do 11. We would like to apply for a preemption grant this next year. If we’re not able to get a grant for the preemption, then it will be something that we look at financing in-house.”

Hennessee said the goal is to implement the system to all traffic lights. Hennessee said all that would remain after this project are two lights along Highway 111 and the Turntable Road and North Spring Street intersection.

“We have the traffic signal at Walmart, the traffic signal at McDonald’s and the traffic signal at North Spring and Turntable Road that we were only able to replace the internal components this go around,” Hennessee said.

Hennessee said the contract of work has been awarded with an anticipated completion before October. Hennessee said the system will increase safety for emergency personnel and other motorists.

“They have 90 days from the notice of the award to start,” Hennessee said. “I think the drop dead date on it has to be completed on or before September 30th.”