just something to add and there may be a reason why or why not. The lights on North Street in front of the fire station only turn red when an engine is leaving. Can't this be done here on Essex St as well?

This issue was recategorized from Other - City Issues to Traffic Signals.

Mayor's Office assigned this issue to Electrical Department

Problem still exists. At 1:30 PM today, the light only allowed two cars to go through before the light changed. I noticed the traffic had backed up to the lights at Dalton Parkway and Jackson Street.

No it has not been fixed!!!

Traffic was backed up just passed the high school yesterday. What changed??? It never used to be this way.....

Everyday it's back up - I avoid that park of Highland Ave as much as possible. The electrical department was supposed to go sit and watch the lights but I guess that got passed over too

This issue is consistently raised by well meaning Salem citizens and is dismissed on every occasion by the City official in charge of traffic management. The truth is the light in front of the firehouse has been changed from a blinking yellow caution light to a light that turns red when the light at Boston and Essex is red. This was done, and rightlfully so, to make sure the fire station exit is not blocked by cars stopped by the red light at Boston.
The result of this change is that traffic backs up in both directions on Essex and Highland avenue. In an ironic twist emergency vehicles, especially ambulances must drive against and through this backed up traffic imperiling those who need medical assistance and drivers who try to make way for emergency vehicles.
The reason for this lengthy note is to try to jar some sense into the City Official in charge whose only past response has been to blame all drivers for texting and failing to be attentive. Well this is not very civic minded and also not correct. Perhaps a little creative thinking might solve what is truely a problem. To blame everyone else is childish and not professional.

Good luck - I have been trying forever to correct these lights and it just keeps getting put off.

Left turn traffic approaching from 107 needs higher priority. There are no comparable backups approaching from lower Essex St. or from Boston St. As pointed out by others, the priority should be higher for 107 eastbound in any case, because it would reduce complications for emergency vehicles.

Thank you for reporting this issue. We will look into it and be in touch if we require any additional information.

Closed; issue fixed per Electrical Department.