NEWSBEAT REPORTER

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development plans to install traffic light signals to the on ramps of I-12.

The new ramp signals will extend from Essen to the on-ramp of Walker, La. and allow vehicles to merge on to I-12 every four seconds.

To ensure traffic does not congest city streets, the signals include an automatic sensor that can change the wait period.

Employees will watch the ramp signals to make sure traffic flows smoothly.

DOTD scheduled meetings for citizens to ask questions about the new technology.

All meeting times are from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The first meeting is today for the Baton Rouge area.The second is tomorrow for the Walker area.

And the final meeting is next Tuesday for the Denham Springs area.

“It’s kind of a conter intuitive idea to put a signal on an on ramp,” said communication director for DOTD, Sherry Dupre. “We really believe once the citizens understand how it works, and why it works…uh, that’ll, that’ll see the benefit of it. So, we want to get as many people as we can out to those public meetings.”

The ramp signals will operate during peak traffic hours.

DOTD plans to install the signals by spring of 2010.