DOT to employ new technology to help drivers on stretch of Highway 100

WAUWATOSA (WITI) -- Drivers sick of being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic near Mayfair Mall may soon get some relief, as the Wisconsin DOT is hopeful new lights will ease traffic congestion.

The stretch of Highway 100 near Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa can be a headache.

"On a normal day, it's real hectic. Very busy," Wynette Polk said.

"It's very frustrating!" Gary Rushing said.

Traffic from the mall, coupled with slow turning lights and nearby highway construction can leave drivers waiting.

"Especially after work hours. The 5:00 traffic -- it's jam-packed all the time!" Polk said.

"You're going to be sitting at the stoplight for a good five to 10 minutes sometimes," Rushing said.

The Wisconsin DOT is hopeful new technology will help ease the flow of traffic.

"It's called an adaptive system because it responds directly to the needs of traffic. We expect the signals to operate a lot more efficiently then they have in the past," DOT Traffic Engineer Elizabeth Schneider said.

Starting on Tuesday, February 19th, this new technology will be put into action on six traffic lights on Mayfair Road between Burleigh and Walnut. Video will monitor intersections and side streets -- helping to determine the amount of vehicles on the road, and who has been waiting the longest.

"All the intersections are talking to each other, so they know when the vehicles have been released at the other intersections," Schneider said.

This new technology could make long waits for drivers a thing of the past.

"The drivers on Mayfair Road can either expect to approach the signals either when they're green or about to turn green," Schneider said.

DOT officials say this is the first time this technology will be used in Wisconsin.