Project to modernize Gore signal lights to be template for other projects

City officials say work to modernize traffic signal lights on a section of Gore Boulevard could be a pilot program for similar upgrades on other arterials.

Traffic Engineering Consultants estimated it would cost $922,000 to modernize five signal light systems on Gore Boulevard between Northwest/Southwest 2nd Street and Lawrie Tatum Road. The City Council hired TEC last year to make recommendations on upgrades that could ease what east Lawton drivers say is severe congestion problems on one of the major routes into areas of Lawton east of Interstate 44.

B.J. Hawkins, a TEC engineer who also is the City of Lawton’s stand-in traffic engineer, said TEC’s analysis was keyed toward updating and modernizing traffic signal lights in Lawton, especially in this troubled area.

“There has been a lot of complaints,” he said, adding upgrades there could have applications elsewhere. “This is the first step in a plan to modernize some of the signal lights in the City of Lawton.”

Hawkins said this area is a challenge because while traffic engineers typically want to see at least a quarter-mile of spacing between signal lights, this area of Gore Boulevard has five lights in one mile. Each set presents its own challenges.

The 2nd Street system is actually two intersections separated by a 150-foot-wide median.

“Aesthetically, it’s pleasing,” Hawkins said, pointing to pedestrian walkways and park space within the media.

It also has heavy traffic flow from all four directions at intersections that lack modern amenities necessary for traffic control, most notably, video and vehicle detection systems. Hawkins said the controller is set to let each direction operate independently, regardless of whether cars are waiting or not.

“It creates the poorest operation that could take place at that intersection,” he said, adding a vehicle detection system would speed movement at the intersection and communications equipment would allow the 2nd Street intersection “to talk” to others nearby to coordinate vehicular movement.

The intersection at Railroad Street is similar, with two sets of lights separated by a 75-foot-wide median. As a new system, that intersection has modern detection systems but doesn’t operate as efficiently Hawkins said. It also needs a communications system and emergency pre-emption system to stop east-west traffic when police and fire vehicles need to exit.

Lights on either side of East Gore Boulevard’s I-44 bridge provide access for drivers coming off or exiting onto the interstate, and state officials have said the lights will not be moved. Hawkins said most of the outdated equipment there needs to be replaced.

The light at Lawrie Tatum Road was put in place 15 years ago as a temporary measure, Hawkins said, adding that because of the temporary nature, the system lacks the equipment it should have.

“Especially since it is 300 feet from the (I-44) ramps,” he said, of what other traffic engineers have said is a too-close placement of signal lights.

The temporary nature of the intersection is apparent through signal lights on a wire span attached to wood poles, a temporary cabinet and its lack of video detectors, and that lack of equipment causes problems with queuing, Hawkins said. He recommends the intersection be modernized with a new, permanent system that will be tied to the pedestrian system that will be installed alongside the I-44 ramp systems.

That new signal light system, at $300,000, is the most expensive of the components of what Hawkins estimates will be a $921,800 modernization project. Other notable expenses include $250,000 for new vehicle detection systems, $83,000 for plan design, estimate and bidding, $60,000 to instal emergency pre-exemption systems and $50,000 to replace controller cabinets.