Officials in Mercer Island, Washington, recently said that new traffic signals installed on Southeast 27th Street will soon be operational, once adaptive signal control software is activated, according to the Mercer Island Reporter.

The source notes that when traffic signal controllers were initially delivered, they were faulty and had to be returned. The new controllers are expected to arrive and be operational by the end of the week. Sensors placed at the top of signal poles will control the traffic signal patterns, a form of adaptive signal control technology designed to improve the flow of traffic along the roadway. Officials also noted that the new signals would be linked to six other existing traffic signals, creating a signal synchronization network that would minimize red lights for commuters, especially during periods of high volume.

Traffic signal synchronization and adaptive signal control technology help municipalities manage difficult intersections and reduce carbon emissions. Idling vehicles are among the primary contributors to pollution, and minimizing the amount of time drivers spend waiting at red lights significantly reduces carbon monoxide in the air.