TIFTON, Ga. — A contract awarded May 5 by the Georgia Department of Transportation will modernize signals and upgrade pedestrian safety measures at eight locations in Brooks and Colquitt counties.

Georgia DOT is moving toward new signal software that allows a technician to dial in remotely to see an intersection and make adjustments. Many signal problems can be resolved faster using software rather than dispatching a technician to fix the issue at the traffic signal control cabinet, the DOT said in a press release.

Signal heads, poles, cabinets and other components also will be upgraded. New striping and crosswalks will be installed with ramps that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Countdown timers for pedestrians will be added at locations that don’t have them. This is a $1.3 million safety project scheduled to be complete in June 2018.

In Colquitt County, the affected intersections are on U.S. Highway 319 where it crosses Murphy Road/Gene McQueen Road, SR 33/Pavo Road, Tallokas Road, Magnolia Lane and SR 33/Tifton Highway.

The project intersections on U.S. 84 in Brooks County are Barwick Street, SR 76/SR 333/Court Street and Washington Street.