Due to the expansion of North Martin Street across West Aaron Drive, a traffic light will be placed at the new intersection to deal with incoming traffic from the rerouting.
Several lights also will be put up in the vicinity of the intersection, Hendrickson said. The stretch of road between the intersection and the Park Forest Apartments complex, 901 E W. Aaron Drive, currently has no streetlights. "It should be safer after dark with the lights," Hendrickson said.
Park Forest resident Mindi Kirchner (senior-English) is looking forward to the new lights. "I walk home at night a lot along West Aaron, and it's very dark. I can't see in front of myself half the time," Kirchner said.
Businesses near the construction of the new intersection, such as Best Buy Co., Inc., 1650 N. Atherton St., are looking forward to the expansion.
"I don't think it will be a traffic concern," general manager Larry Murphy said. "I think, in fact, it will alleviate our current traffic."
When extended, North Martin Street will go behind Best Buy. Increased traffic will not cause traffic jams, but will instead provide more visibility for the store, Murphy said.
Ferguson police department does not anticipate any problems with traffic because of the redirection.
In response to the expansion, Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) plans to make a change to its N/V express route to North Martin Street and Vairo Boulevard.
CATA transportation director Hugh Mose said the N/V route, which was started this semester, was created with the understanding that construction would be finished during the fall.
"As of now, the bus has to make a detour from Martin Street to West Aaron, and then get to Vairo Boulevard through Atherton," Mose said. "With this new intersection, we can provide an efficient connection for Martin, Atherton and Vairo Boulevard."
Mose said it is too early to tell if the construction will help with keeping buses on schedule.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is not responsible for these expansion projects. Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., 1952 Waddle Road, was contracted by the town to expand North Martin Street.
Hawbaker said the project, which began this summer, should be completed by the end of September.
While this project does not involve PennDOT, Hendrickson said it still must meet PennDOT regulations.
"If a new intersection is going up, there has to be a traffic light according to PennDOT regulations," Hendrickson said.
The expansion of North Atherton Street to a four-lane road on both sides will begin later this year, Hendrickson said.
Current construction on Clinton Avenue and West Cherry Lane must be completed before further changes can be implemented.
