New traffic signals were installed along the on-ramps of the Beltline Wednesday, aimed at reducing delays during heavy traffic hours.

On Wednesday, new generation of traffic signal lights were put into use along the ramp of the Beltline, intended to reduce congestion during rush hours.

Oregon Department of Transportation engineers say that areas using "ramp meter" traffic signals with traffic lights module see a decline in traffic bottlenecks and crashes.

Cars stop at the signals in two lanes, each with a red light. Alternating between the left and right lane the signals will turn green, allowing cars to shuffle into traffic along the Beltline. 

Julie Infante is one of the ODOT engineers that installed the traffic signal lights on the westbound Beltline on-ramp from Green Acres Road.

“Breaking up these groups of vehicles helps ease congestion and that also helps reduce crashes,” Infante said.

The $2 million signal system project is funded by the 2009 Oregon Transportation Act, ODOT planner Savannah Crawford said. At present, the most necessary thing is to start identifying short term improvements, low cost improvements that we can start helping manage the traffic flow with traffic signal module on the Beltline, to improve safety and operations.