The new traffic light on Ga. Highway 74 at Georgian Park and Ardenlee wasn’t up and running as expected Wednesday afternoon.

But it could be fully activated as early as Monday, officials said.

The delay was due to rain and thunderstorms in the area, said City Engineer David Borkowski. As of Wednesday afternoon, the plan was to pave the additional turn lanes and install the traffic signal equipment on Thursday so the light could be turned on Friday, he said.

If that deadline can be met, the light will be in blinking mode for three days to alert drivers, meaning it can be fully operational Monday, Borkowski said.

“That’s what they tell me they’re shooting for,” Borkowski said. The work crews are not to blame for the delay because they have really worked hard in an effort to get the light open by Wednesday, when the Target store opened.

The development agreement between the city and developer Faison Enterprises does not require the store to remain closed until the traffic light comes on line, Borkowski noted. That development agreement focused on traffic movement in the area of the store, specifically along Georgian Parkway, and also on the store’s exterior, among other details.

The City Council voted last month to fast-track the traffic light, which was slowed in the permitting process with the Georgia Department of Transportation. Council voted to spend not more than $303,812 in a no-bid contract so the developer’s crews could install the traffic lights while they remained on-site. Had they not done so, bids would have been required, possibly delaying the traffic light installation by months.

Normally the DOT requires new traffic lights to blink for seven consecutive days as a warning to motorists before they can be activated. But DOT agreed to allow a shorter three-day “burn-in” period, according to City Manager Bernie McMullen.

Crews are also working on another traffic light that will line up with World Drive and the other entrance to the shopping center.

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