The Maine Department of Transportation is in the final stages of installing a traffic light at the intersection of Windham Center Road and Route 202 in Windham.

“I fully expect that we’ll have this signal up and running during the week of the 11th, but I’m an optimist,” said Jim Mansir, project manager for the transportation department.

The project has been slowed in the past because of communication troubles with Verizon and Central Maine Power. Wires for the new light needed to be installed on poles already used by the two companies. MDOT, CMP and Verizon workers had to move their organizations’ own wires out of the way for each other.

“That intersection is one of the most dangerous intersections in Windham,” said State Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Cumberland.

Diamond said initially that MDOT agreed to install a traffic sensor at the intersection but rejected the town’s requests for a light. Then, Diamond said, he and then-state representative David Tobin (R-Windham), who is a current member of the town council, convinced MDOT to look into the issue again.

Early last spring, Diamond said, MDOT decided to go ahead with the traffic light.

Diamond, who serves on the Transportation Committee in the state senate, said the intersection in front of Corsetti’s Market and close to several Windham schools will be a lot safer now.

“I think maybe the best thing we’re doing here is hopefully saving a kid’s life,” Diamond said.

Mansir said the lights will be set to blink for the first few days for testing purposes and to help motorists become accustomed to them.

trafficlight1: Aaron Perry of Sanford directs traffic at the intersection of Windham Center Road and Route 202 as crews install the new traffic lights. trafficlight2, trafficlight3, trafficlight4: Crews install traffic lights in front of Corsetti’s Market at the intersection of Windham Center Road and Route 202. trafficlight2, trafficlight3, trafficlight4: Crews install traffic lights in front of Corsetti’s Market at the intersection of Windham Center Road and Route 202. trafficlight2, trafficlight3, trafficlight4: Crews install traffic lights in front of Corsetti’s Market at the intersection of Windham Center Road and Route 202.