Upgrade was expensive but worth it, says Alexander

With the addition of a traffic light, an intersection north of West Union is a safer place for motorists to maneuver. But an eyebrow or two was raised recently upon hearing that the cost of traffic lights at South Carolina 11 and Fowler Road exceeded $400 thousand. State Senator Thomas Alexander, at the request of 96.3/WGOG NEWS, did some checking and his conclusion is that the state Department of Transportation designed the project in the right way to ensure optimal safety. The intersection helps feed traffic on the way and from the nearby Walhalla Elementary School. The $400 thousand cost reflected more than the traffic lights. According to Alexander, the funds covered turning lanes and other safety features that are helping turn what had been an accident-prone intersection into a safer area.