Amherst traffic light limited at Main and South East streets

AMHERST — A traffic signal at the intersection of Main and South East streets, damaged in a car crash over the summer, will continue to have flashing red and yellow lights for the foreseeable future.

Even though the signal is near the exit to Fort River School, meaning a higher volume of vehicles depend on the lights when school gets out in mid-afternoon, the town was unable to restore it to working condition, due to both the mechanical issues and supply chain shortages in getting new parts, according to town officials.

The town is advising people who commute through the intersection to allow for additional time and to avoid the area if possible.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the town was able to do temporary repairs to get the signal working again, for a time, by repurposing equipment from the former traffic lights at the intersection of West Street, Pomeroy Lane and West Pomeroy Lane. That signal was removed over the summer when a new roundabout was built there.