A traffic light replacement at East 10th Avenue and Corbet Street in Tarentum is expected to ease backups at the busy intersection.

The long-awaited project began Monday after being stalled for several months because of supply chain issues.

“It has been a long time coming,” Councilwoman Lou Ann Homa said.

The cost is about $215,000.

Manager Dwight Boddorf said the project was approved by council more than a year ago but had to wait for the construction items to arrive.

“The materials finally came in, and the project is moving forward,” he said.

Single-lane restrictions on East 10th Avenue and Corbet Street are expected to last about two weeks.

Flaggers are on-site, but motorists are advised to use alternate routes.

The project includes a modernized traffic signal and a third crosswalk, along with a left-turn signal toward Corbet to ease backups.

“It will promote safety by adding a green arrow to turn,” Councilwoman Carrie Fox said.

Homa said it can be difficult to make the turn, and “many people will turn left on red just to get across.”

“It should also eliminate some of the traffic from people turning down Porter Street to avoid trying to turn left at the light,” she said.

The work will not cost taxpayers. It’s being paid for by a state grant awarded through PennDOT in 2019.

The money is coming from the Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements grant program, which generates funding through fines at monitored intersections, according to PennDOT.

The contract was awarded in spring 2022 to Traffic Systems and Services Inc.

Mayor Bob Lang said the upgraded equipment will include license plate readers and traffic cameras.

A pedestrian countdown signal is planned, and the traffic light will include a system that allows emergency vehicles to pass through without being stopped by a red light.

“It’s been needed for quite some time,” Fox said.

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