PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — If you see work being done on traffic lights around Pinellas County, it’s to make them stronger during storm season.

What You Need To Know

  • Pinellas County is now converting traffic lights on span wires to sturdier mast arms

  • Crews are working at 30 different intersections

  • The mast arms hold up better in in high winds than wires

Crews are working to convert the traffic lights on span wires to sturdier mast arms.

County Transportation Director Tom Washburn says that sometimes those wires don’t hold up in the high winds of a storm. Mast arms are stronger.

“Typically, in a hurricane, we get one or two span wires that are damaged. Because of the way they swing in the wind, they get twisted. A lot of the equipment gets damaged,” Washburn said.

Crews are now working on converting the lights at 30 different intersections.

“You’ll see that the signal wires just hang down. Almost like a plug and play. So when it starts to get windy, even not in a hurricane, these things can swing,” Washburn said.

Washburn also says that converting traffic lights from wires to arms not only helps in a storm, but also in the aftermath when people are returning home. More traffic lights will be online and ready to go.

Crews are also focusing on critical areas like evacuation routes that can be busy during and after the storm.

“The arms are much more hardened structures. They’re easier to operate. They’re easier to maintain,” Washburn said.

The county also received funds from a FEMA grant that helps pay for the new signal arms.

In addition, state law says that all new traffic lights installed in coastal areas should be built mast arms instead of wires.