FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- City employees fixed a traffic signal on Thursday that was giving pedestrians an obscene hand gesture instead of an order to stop at a Fort Collins intersection.
It was unclear how long the signal had been malfunctioning. Traffic engineer Joe Olson said as soon as the city is informed of such problems, they are usually fixed within one business day. Emergencies, such as flashing traffic lights, are typically fixed within the hour.
Britney Sorensen, a traffic systems engineer, said the traffic department performs annual maintenance checks at each light and signal in town, but typically relies on the public to let them know when something isn't working properly.
She suspects the explicit signal used outdated LED (light-emitting diode) technology, which likely caused the malfunction. There are not many older LED systems still being used in town, according to Sorensen.
To fix the signal, Sorensen said it will cost about $200, including labor and materials. The LED lights cost about $150.
The newer LED signals and lights, which last longer and use less energy than incandescent lights, have a lifetime of about 10 years. Sorensen said the signals and lights are more susceptible to failure in the cold, but even then the department receives only "a handful" of repair calls every day.
