BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- The Berrien County Road Department announced this week that all of the county's traffic signals will be upgraded this summer. 

"The BCRD is overseeing a contractor who is making improvements to the County traffic signals. BCRD has 14 total signals. This project will improve the function and ability to oversee traffic at county signal locations," BCRD Communications Coordinator Adri Boone said.

The project is being at least partially funded through the Congested Mitigation Air Quality Program.

"This federal funding will assist in the project cost making these upgrades possible," Boone said.

The project includes upgrading signal heads, cameras, modems, and controllers at all 14 intersections across the county, with a completion date of July 31 for 13 of them.

"The signal at the DC Cook Nuclear Plant in Lake Township will have upgrades take place in 2026," Boone said. "All other locations will be upgraded in 2025."

Road officials say, during the upgrading process, the public might run into shoulder or lane closures that help facilitate equipment and crews.

"Upgrades are being done in stages, including removal of old sensors. Signals are currently running on a predetermined timing loop until those sensors and camera upgrades are complete," Boone said.

"As a result of running on a timing loop, the traveling public might see longer or shorter cycle times than necessary to have the traffic fully clear the signal."

The goal of the upgrades is to improve safety at the 14 intersections and Boone says the upgrades will reduce unnecessary down time due to old and aging infrastructure; it will also enable remote monitoring that will aid in review of malfunctioning signals or dark signals following disruptions to power.