By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

A new traffic signal will soon be operating near the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, located at 1601 Brenner Ave.

According to Vickie Eddleman, traffic engineering coordinator with the city of Salisbury, the new traffic signal was built at the intersection of Brenner Avenue and Link Avenue.

On Monday, a traffic signal contractor installed vehicle detection for the traffic signal.

The Brenner and Link intersection was studied by the city in 2013 to see what traffic control measures were needed, Eddleman said in an email.

Through the study, it was found that 85 percent of drivers travelled at 38 miles per hour or slower.

A three-year accident history study from 2011 to 2013 found that there were a total of 13 accidents. Ten of those accidents were angle, or correctable, two were rear-end collisions and one was an obstruction in the roadway. There were no reports of pedestrian accidents during the time period that the study looked at.

Eddleman said the study also examined traffic volume. A total of 8,060 vehicles came down Brenner Avenue per day, 422  vehicles came down Link Avenue per day and 2,060 vehicles went through the VA’s exit.

“Upon completion of the study, it was determined the best course of action was to install a traffic signal,” Eddleman said in an email.

A financial agreement with the VA was signed in 2014 for the design and installation of the traffic signal. The cost will be split, with the VA paying 50 percent.

An electrical inspection is required before Duke Energy can set the meter to give the signal power.

The signal will then go into a flash state for a week before it starts normal operation.

“It is hopeful that the signal will be placed into the initial flash state in the middle of next week,” Eddleman said.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.