Traffic signals in the Town of Farmville may receive numerous upgrades, which include the potential for new traffic cameras and battery backups that would keep the traffic lights on when a power failure occurs.

The Town of Farmville announced in a public notice that it is seeking bids to upgrade up to 20 traffic signals at intersections throughout town.

“The project may include battery backups, camera systems, signal heads for left turns where needed, new VDOT retroreflective backplates for all traffic lights and one (1) control cabinet,” the notice cited.

The town accepted bids until Wednesday, May 29.

Town Manager Gerald Spates said the town hopes to improve a number of features for area traffic signals.

“The cameras are old that operate the traffic signals, plus we’re putting in battery backups at all of the traffic signals,” Spates said.

Spates said the project is possible through a 50/50 grant with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Spates estimated the total cost for the project to be approximately $510,000, with VDOT providing a little more than half that cost.

If the town doesn’t end up using all of the grant funding VDOT provided, the funds will return to VDOT, where it will be distributed to other projects.

“It’s just routine maintenance,” Spates said, who clarified, “we’re not putting up new traffic lights.”

He said the backup batteries will be useful in the event of a power failure or outage. The activation of the backup batteries would keep the traffic signals working despite an outage.

Spates said this would prevent a police officer from having to direct traffic and increase safety for motorists on the roads.

The Herald made a separate inquiry to Spates concerning a few of the traffic signals in town that have intermittent, flashing lights when the traffic light turns red.

Spates said these flashing lights are a unique feature to a few of the lights in the Town of Farmville. The town added that feature in order to further alert motorists that the traffic signal has changed. It’s also meant to prevent accidents at some intersections.

“It brings more attention to it,” Spates said about the feature. “At some intersections the sun hits you in the eyes and you can’t tell whether the light is red.”