Lighting up Indiantown Road

By Bill DiPaolo | Friday, September 26, 2008
Copyright 2008 The Palm Beach Post

JUPITER — New traffic lights at the Starbucks intersection on the south side of Indiantown Road are expected to be complete today, part of a $2.4 million in lighting, resurfacing and landscaping on Indiantown Road.

Called masthead lights, the new traffic lights are connected to 65-foot-long green metal arms that stretch above the road. They replace the traffic lights that were connected by wires, said Alicia De Fago, Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson.

Masthead lights were installed last week on the north side of Indiantown Road, across from Starbucks at Jupiter West Plaza.

At Central Boulevard and Indiantown Road, workers have been drilling holes to install the 30-foot-tall concrete poles that hold up the lights on all four corners of the intersection.
The masthead lights and poles are built to withstand 140-mph winds.

“The masthead lights and poles are safer. And they have a better appearance,” said De Fago.

The new lights will not be switched on until December when the overall project is complete along the 1.5-mile stretch off Indiantown Road between Chasewood Plaza and just west of Florida Turnpike.

In the meantime, the old traffic lights will be used.

The wires from DOT will disappear above motorists when new lights are turned on. But electric wires operated by Florida Power and Light will remain.