Every day, millions of people rely on transportation systems to get to work, school, and home safely—and behind each journey are the dedicated transportation workers who make it possible. From Bus drivers, train operators, mechanics, dispatchers, logistic coordinators, to engineers, transportation workers are heroes who keep the world moving. Our department is grateful for our division of heroes within the Sign and Signal Shop (SASS).
Meet Our Crew:
The City’s SASS has 26 team members, 14 of whom work on the sign side and 12 on the signal side. This division leads the City in creating traffic signs, installing or repairing traffic signals, paving roadways and bike lanes, installing crosswalks, and performing other related tasks.
As a team, they manage and maintain over four hundred traffic signals across the City. To maintain a traffic signal, our crews perform routine inspections, replace light bulbs, clean the signal cabinet, and adjust the signal timing as necessary. A key thing to note about our crew is that they work “on call, ” meaning they can promptly be notified at any hour to arrive and solve an emergency.
2025 Accomplishments:
Adverse Weather:
Road Closure on Downtown Durham Road during January 2025 Snow and Ice Storm and Roadway Flooding from Tropical Storm Chantel July 2025
From snowstorms to hurricanes, our crew led the effort to keep Durham operating through adverse weather conditions throughout this year. During these times, our crew implemented road closures and detours, conducted repairs to traffic signals, and worked with other agencies to restore power or control traffic flow.
Biking and Pedestrian Improvements:
Wireless Audible Pedestrian Push Button Installed on Chapel Hill and Kent Street in January 2025, and Green Paint was Implemented on Main Street in June 2025.
At the beginning of this year, the City received a request for an accessible pedestrian push button from a visually impaired resident who frequently walks through Chapel Hill Street and Kent Street. The team faced challenges because the brick sidewalk prohibited the wires from being buried. To tackle the challenge, the Sign Shop partnered with NCDOT to install a wireless pedestrian push button. This technology is the first of its kind in the Southeastern United States.
To encourage safe cycling, our crew painted a bike lane in downtown Durham green. The green paint in a bike lane helps to improve the visibility of cyclists for drivers. The bright color helps to create a safety barrier between cyclists and drivers in conflict zones.
Traffic Calming:
Speed Hump Install on Stadium Drive February 2025
In efforts to keep Durham moving safely, our crew frequently installs speed reduction signs, speed humps, and no-turn-on-red signs at high-impact intersections. These improvements matter because lower speeds reduce the severity of crashes and encourage drivers to drive with increased caution.
Crash Repair:
T.W. Alexander Pole Knockdown, and Riddle Road Traffic
Signal Knockdown, October 2025
In April, a truck crashed into the signal support on the southeast corner of T.W.
Alexander Drive and the I-885 NB ramp intersection. This structure is vital because it houses traffic signals, antennas, cameras, and other communication devices that facilitate communication on our roadways.
To keep the City moving, the signal shop promptly worked for 8 hours on site until 11 p.m. to install a temporary fix (temporary wood poles and new signal wire and heads). For these repairs, our crew coordinated with NCDOT to create a plan to replace the pole.
Most recently, an overnight collision resulted in damage to the existing traffic signals along Riddle Road. Our crew worked overnight and into the next day to complete the repairs promptly, restoring traffic flow on this busy roadway. The extensive repair included rebuilding the signal, completing the detector wiring, and performing an electrical service inspection.
Thank You to Our Crew:
This job is unpredictable, but our staff is prepared and dedicated to handling unexpected tasks, working through hurricanes and power outages, and managing daily operations, including traffic flow, impacts of vehicle collisions, and implementing road closures. To our team, thank you for your dedicated efforts to remain safe while working to keep our City safe and moving.