MADISON, MS

New signal helps turn chaos into calm for busy shoppers

The City of Madison contracted with Neel-Schaffer to provide engineering design and construction management services for a new traffic signal at an extremely busy intersection on Grandview Boulevard.

Improvements included the addition of a fully actuated traffic signal to a busy intersection that serves as the main entrance from a 4-lane divided highway to a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the west side of the roadway and a Lowe’s Home Improvement store on the east side. The intersection had a history of frequent crashes, and was considered dangerous by the public. The intersection lacked pedestrian crossing on Grandview Boulevard.

The project also improved the handicapped accessibility at this intersection by constructing new, ADA compliant crossings that serve all four corners of the intersection.

The new signal features new pedestrian access across Grandview Boulevard; energy efficient LED displays and street lights; full traffic actuation using radar detection; and audible pedestrian pushbuttons to aid visually impaired persons to cross the streets safely. The project was constructed on a road with very little existing right-of-way. Neel Schaffer identified the land requirements and worked with the City and its acquisition agent to obtain the necessary right-of-way and temporary easements.

There were many existing utilities in the ground, including a 30-inch water main that serves the Nissan automobile manufacturing facility in Canton. Careful coordination was necessary to ensure that these facilities were not damaged.

The traffic through the intersection is extremely heavy during many parts of the day. Lane closures were restricted and open excavations had to be completely filled by the end of each day.

This project has turned chaos into calm at the once dangerous intersection.