'Nightmare' New Traffic Light Coming to Highland, NY

Unfortunately, Highland and the Town of Lloyd know a few things about frustrating traffic lights... but whether the new installation on Route 9W will be a headache or a miracle is still up for debate.

Residents are split about the new light that some are calling "ridiculous" and "a nightmare". Others are hoping it could save a life.

A new traffic light will soon go into service in Highland, NY (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Controversial Traffic Lights in Highland, NY

The first traffic light to cause recent headaches in the area was just over a mile away from the current controversy, when a temporary light was installed to help aid the flow of vehicles during a major construction project in 2023 (below).

The temporary light on Chapel Hill Rd almost became permanent, but was removed after the construction project that needed to divert traffic had finished (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Temporary Traffic Light Caused Traffic Backups in Highland, NY

There were rumors that the light, located at the intersection of 44/55 and Chapel Hill Road, might become permanent after construction had finished, but massive lines of traffic (below) may have influenced the decision to return the intersection back to its original state. The new light, however, seems to be here to stay.

A temporary traffic light on Chapel Hill Rd. in Highland, NY caused backups for months in 2023 (TSM Poughkeepsie)

New Traffic Signal Unveiled on Route 9W in Highland, NY

The traffic signals, which have yet to be activated, are located at the intersection of Mayer Drive and Route 9W in Highland, NY (below). The issue many residents have with the project is the strange traffic pattern it creates.

A new traffic signal has been installed at Mayer Dr and Route 9W in Highland, NY (Google Maps/TSM Poughkeepsie)

The light is meant to help residents of two residential neighborhoods attached to Mayer Dr to more safely enter the busy stretch of Route 9W, unfortunately it is mere feet from another cluster of lights that control traffic leaving a popular shopping center (below).

The new traffic lights on Route 9W are just feet away from a busy intersection with its own signals (TSM Poughkeepsie)

"This light is such a joke", lamented one resident. "It’s going to be like the ShopRite/Marist intersection in Poughkeepsie with the double lights. It’s a nightmare", commented another. Not everyone agreed.

The loaction of a new traffic signal on Route 9W in Highland, NY (Google Maps/TSM Poughkeepsie)

"I’m excited to finally see a traffic light there. If you live in Highland Hills it’s incredibly dangerous trying to pull out of Mayer Dr", observed a thankful commenter. "It’s needed with the new housing they are building. Will save a life as you can’t cross 9W safely from the neighborhood", cautioned a second opinion.

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For others, it brought back memories of the abovementioned temporary light from 2023 and 2024, with one resident saying, "remember the light by Joey's auto.... let's hope the same happens in some time [and it gets removed]".