Hazel Dell traffic signal repair to take several weeks

A controller for two traffic signals on Northeast Hazel Dell Avenue failed Sunday night.

The two signals, at Northeast 81st and Northeast 82nd streets just west of the shopping complex that includes a Safeway, could remain in all-red flash mode for the next four to eight weeks until replacement equipment arrives.

An all-red flash means each driver must treat the signal as if it were a stop sign.

Some of the controller’s components are more than 20 years old. The county has ordered replacement signal electronics, and the supplier has been asked to expedite the order, according to a news release.

Once the equipment arrives, county crews will get it installed and the signals functioning correctly as quickly as possible.

“We realize that this is a significant inconvenience for people driving on Hazel Dell Avenue, one that already is having a distinct impact on nearby businesses,” said Bill Wright, the county’s transportation programming manager. “We are making every effort to expedite the repair process so traffic flow and business activity can return to normal.”