Jackson Township police have been getting lots of complaints about the new traffic signals recently installed on Route 19.

JACKSON TWP — Two recently installed traffic signals on Route 19 have been problematic for motorists.

The traffic signals built last summer have slow turning signal changes for drivers.

For the lights at Zehner School Road, drivers wanting to turn left onto Route 19 are faced with a slow left-turn signal.

For the other light just north, drivers wanting to turn left from Route 19 onto Jackson’s Pointe Road have a delayed left-turn signal.

The traffic signals were installed to better accommodate the new developments in the adjacent Jackson’s Pointe.

Township manager Chris Rearick said the township will talk this week with the Buncher Co., the real estate agency that owns Jackson’s Pointe, about the lights.

“There’s always the question of ‘Are people pulling up far enough?’” Rearick said. “But I have to think they are because our police have encountered that.”

The Buncher Co. owns both lights. Township Police Chief Terry Seilhamer said the township will not accept ownership until the problems have been fixed.

Seilhamer said the police department has received “dozens” of complaints regarding both lights.

“For the one at Zehner School Road, what we’ve found is some drivers try to make a left against the light,” he said.

However, he said most of the time, motorists make a right turn, drive down Route 19 a short distance and make a U-turn to come back northbound.

“Apparently it’s frustrating based upon the volume of complaints we received,” Seilhamer said.

He said when the police department receives a complaint, an officer is sent to the traffic signal to reset it.

“Sometimes it’s operating in fine fashion. The cycle is going through correctly,” Seilhamer said. “Other times they have gone down there and have been unable to trigger the signal.”

One method used to help with the lights was to de-sequence the traffic signals.

“That helped, but we still have issues remaining,” Rearick said. “I think they (Buncher Company) are frustrated as well.”

Seilhamer said a potential danger that may arise is if impatient drivers try to turn on a red light and cause a major accident. However, no major accidents have been reported at either traffic signal.

“It just seems like they can’t figure out what’s wrong with it,” Seilhamer said. “We’ve suggested they may want to consider replacing the interior components completely.”