If you travel up and down on White Street/Newtown Road, then you've seen the new traffic signal on at the intersection on Byron Street.

This signal was was installed recently to accommodate Winters Brothers Waste Systems LLC.

For reasons unknown, the geniuses at City Hall decided to set the turn signal to flash red in all directions at late night. The problem with this scenario is that no one who travels on White Street are stopping at the intersection...because the signal on White should be set to yellow and NOT red.

To illustrate my point, recently I went down to the intersection to videotape the traffic in action...take a look.

Here's the state law on traffic signals (Connecticut Code - Sec. 14-299 (c 1-2)).

(c) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:

(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line when marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

(2) When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles facing such signal may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.

The question remains...will it take an accident for city officials to do the right thing on the corner of White and Byron?

After years of planning, addressing resident concerns, and compromise, today the U.S. Army Reserve broke ground on their new facility at the Lee Farm property on Wooster Heights Road.

Here's an overview of the new facility (via U.S. Army Reserve handout):

• Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) with approximately 96,000 square feet, joint vehicle maintenance shop with approximately 18,000 square feet, and unheated storage building with approximately 3,000 square feet.


• This Armed Forces Reserve Center replaces the United States Army Reserve Centers in Danbury, Fairfield, and Waterbury CT., as well as the Connecticut Army National Guard Armories in Naugatuck and Norwalk.


• It is estimated that 1,000 Army Reserve and Connecticut National Guard soldiers will utilize the new complex on rotating schedules.


• The new complex incorporates all the Reserve's latest training and administration requirements while using an array of sustainability concepts.


• Total project of 33.8 million was awarded to Korte-Fusco Joint Ventures of St. Louis, Missouri on August 31, 2011.


• This AFRC is part of construction undertaken as a direct result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations made in 2005.

From earlier today, here's video highlights of the ceremony.