Traffic on

the north side of Fayetteville should be running smoother now that traffic

lights on Ga. highways 85 and 314 have been synchronized.

The second

phase of the synchronization program includes traffic lights from the

intersection of hwys. 85 and 314 northward to the last traffic lights

in the city limits, said Fayetteville City Engineer Don Easterbrook. The

signals are linked by fiber optic cable so they can operate together instead

of independently.

The idea is

to "allow for easier commuting through town," Easterbrook said.

The idea is to keep motorists from having to stop at every traffic light,

he added.

Previously,

each signal operated independently, but now they operate in timed concert,

Easterbrook said. The signals operate several different programs that

are run depending on the time of day, with one special program for morning

rush hour and another for the evening rush hour.

The timing

programs are set by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which owns

the signals, Easterbrook said. The signals can be changed remotely from

the DOT's district office in Thomaston, more than 30 miles south of Fayetteville,

without needing to send a DOT official here.

The DOT will

perform actual driving tests with timed results to see how effective the

synchronization project has been.

"We're

waiting on that report to see how much of an improvement there has been,"

Easterbrook said.

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